The total number of deaths from Covid-19 has surpassed 70,000 in Texas. We lag California, a state with over 10 million more people than Texas.
Dr. Peter Hotez with the Baylor College of Medicine says we could surpass the nation's biggest state in a couple of months. He says while case totals are heading lower, deaths continue at more than 100 a day. "If we continue at that rate, you do the math, that's 60 more days. We could get to maybe 80 thousand deaths. We're unfortunately could be on a trajectory to become the worst affected state in the nation."
Hotez adds there are a lot of unaccounted deaths in every global study. "People who unfortunately die at home, the first responders get there and there's a cause of sudden death. We don't know if they are Covid or not so likely the number is even higher."
"This is the worst, in my opinion, the worst single human tragedy that has ever occurred in the state of Texas. It's so profoundly sad. These last two years have been horrible."
In a related matter, a report from Texas CARES at the UT School of Public Health shows 75 percent of all Texans have Covid antibodies, either from infection or vaccine. Hotez says so called natural immunity from infection are five to six times more likely to get infected again than are people who have been vaccinated.
Related
LISTEN on the Audacy App
Sign Up and Follow NewsRadio 1080 KRLD