North Texas clinics overwhelmed by demand for COVID-19 tests, sharp rise in new cases



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Texas health officials have said the rate of new COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and death are now showing larger increases than previous increases.

The seven-day moving average of new cases is up 92% from last week. There were nearly 16,000 new cases and 60 deaths reported in the state on Wednesday.

Currently, hospitals in North Texas have more than 1,900 COVID-19 patients. That’s more than the entire state had four weeks ago.

RELATED: Dallas County raises COVID-19 threat level to red as delta variant spreads

COVID-19 testing, which almost became an afterthought when vaccines became available, are now in high demand.

More than 64,000 coronavirus tests were performed in Dallas County last week, the most since early February.

Dr Nick Karr, founder of Sinai Urgent Care, said his clinics were overwhelmed and couldn’t hire staff fast enough.

“Staffing, as noted, is one of our biggest challenges just because we’ve seen this increase in volume quickly. Staff are frustrated. The patients are frustrated. It’s worrying as we begin to enter flu season. year in which we are ramping up and it caught us a bit by surprise. We’re really wondering what this fall and winter will be like, ”said Dr. Karr.

RELATED: Texas Emergency Director defends state’s refusal to hire additional hospital staff

On Thursday, the White House plans to unveil a new impetus to vaccinate students by enlisting pediatricians to integrate it into their back-to-school sports physical exams.

With millions of students in organized sports, the administration said student-athletes are on the path to vaccination.

“From the start, we have known this virus is unpredictable and we have been relentless, relentless in our efforts to get people vaccinated,” said Jeff Zients, the White House’s COVID-19 response coordinator.

“Universally, when we look at our hospitalizations and deaths, a lot of it is unvaccinated,” added CDC director Dr. Rochelle Walensky.

The White House will also encourage more schools to host vaccination clinics.

Experts urge adults to get vaccinated in a bid to protect children who are not eligible for the vaccine.

RELATED: North Texas Hospitals Suffer Staff Shortages With Next Wave Of COVID-19

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