Citing the need to preserve hospital beds for COVID-19 patients, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott today issued an executive order halting elective medical procedures in the state’s four most heavily populated counties .
The order, issued this morning, covers the counties of Bexar, Dallas, Harris and Travis counties. Bexar County includes the city of San Antonio. Houston is in Harris County and Travis County includes Austin.
COVID-19 cases hit a new high over the past 13 days, according to a report by an KXAS in Fort Worth. The number of coronavirus patients in Texas hospitals reached 4,389 on Wednesday, up from 1,784 on June 1, the television station reported. Abbott also halted the reopening of the Texas economy.