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Connecting today’s news with the research & opinion you need.

Scaremongering

What to Know: Texas state Rep. Gene Wu (D-Houston) says “we’re at the edge of a cliff” and that “After these next few days, we will not have enough beds to care for all of the incoming #COVID19 patients. Then people die.”

The TPPF Take: This is just scaremongering, and it’s irresponsible.

“The fact is we have plenty of hospital capacity available,” says TPPF’s Chuck DeVore. “If the Texas Medical Center, for example, receives even more COVID patients, they can add more ICU beds for a total of 2,207 beds in a system currently treating 362 COVID patients—a six-fold increase in ICU capacity currently treating virus patients. There’s no cause for panic.”
CANNON BANNER (9)-1

Walking Back the Warnings

What to Know: CEOs across the Texas Medical Center in Houston are walking back a previous message that led many in the media to panic. “We realize that the letter issued by the Texas Medical Center yesterday afternoon caused unnecessary alarm,” they write. “Our intent was to educate Houstonians and not alarm them about capacity, which is not an immediate concern.”

The TPPF Take: It’s important to put the COVID-19 numbers in context.

“Context is what’s lacking in too many media reports—and official responses,” says TPPF’s Vance Ginn. “Texas has the most estimated recoveries in the nation and the second lowest fatality rate. Let’s keep that in mind as we continue to responsibly reopen the economy and regain our prosperity.”
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Dallas is Prepared, As Well

What to Know: Dallas hospital officials also say the city can handle a possible surge in COVID-19 cases. They won’t need to open a planned “pop up” hospital at the convention center. 

The TPPF Take: Statewide, deaths continue to trend down and positive outcomes continue to increase.

“Texas is not and has never been close to seeing our health care system overburdened, and the people here are not in any danger of lacking access to hospitals or treatment,” says TPPF’s Kevin Roberts. “From the beginning of the outbreak, Texans have shown the ability to do what’s right for each other and their communities. They deserve the respect from state and local officials to continue to make decisions for themselves.”