The State of Texas is requesting more help from the federal government to address the growing number of COVID-19 cases in the state. Two state agencies have submitted letters to the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
The Texas Division of Emergency Management and the Texas Department of State Health Services are requesting supplies and manpower for specific locations in the state based on their hospitalization rates and positivity rates. They have identified Dallas, Tarrant, Harris, Bexar, Cameron and Hidalgo Counties as areas with the greatest need.
The agencies are asking for federal resources for COVID-19 testing centers in those locations. They're also asking for an increased allocation from the federal government of a monoclonal antibody therapy called Sotrovimab that has been shown to be effective in treating people with the Omicron variant of COVID-19. The Texas Department of State Health Services is also requesting three teams of medical personnel to help hospitals in large cities that are having staffing issues because of the virus.
"Testing sites, additional medical staff, and continued shipments of therapeutics from the federal government will help us continue to save lives and mitigate the spread of COVID-19," said Texas Governor Greg Abbott.
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