Coronavirus Hospitalizations Are Down in Texas, 255 New Deaths Reported Wednesday

Texas is reporting fewer than 7,000 hospitalized coronavirus patients for the first time in six weeks. But the news was clouded by questions over testing as students return to school. Testing has dropped off in Texas and across the country as health experts worry that patients without symptoms aren’t bothering because of long lines and waiting days to get results. Gov Abbott says there’s plenty of testing supplies.

The state health agency reported 255 new deaths Thursday, although they occurred over the past week or more, as the state is now relying on death certificates instead of local health reports to tally deaths.

The latest increase brings the virus death toll to 9,289 in Texas.