Galveston County’s local health authority says the county has seen a sharp rise in COVID-19 cases in recent weeks and strongly urged residents and visitors to wear masks in public and practice social distancing to prevent further spread of the new coronavirus.
“We are at a point now where it’s a critical juncture,” said Dr. Philip Keiser, the local health authority. “If we don’t start seeing changes in behavior, we can expect to see the numbers continue to rise and we can expect to see the strain on the hospitals increasing dramatically. We want to desperately avoid that.”
Of the 1,378 positive COVID-19 cases in Galveston, more than one third have been reported since June 1, according to a press release from the Galveston County Health District. Keiser attributed the uptick to people not wearing masks in public or properly social distancing.
Few people were wearing masks on a recent Sunday at one Galveston beach.
As of Wednesday, 40 people had died from the illness in the county.
Keiser said more younger people are testing positive for the illness, noting that the average age of a person testing positive last week was 30.
He doesn’t expect a lot of the younger people testing positive to be hospitalized but warned that they can still transmit it to family members.
Keiser said the county is seeing clusters of positive tests coming from families and households.
Wearing a mask is a proven way to keep from getting COVID-19, for which there is currently no vaccine. A Houston Chronicle analysis found 95,100 confirmed cases and 2,045 deaths in Texas as of Wednesday evening.
Keiser explained that if someone is wearing a mask and is around another infected person wearing a mask, the chance of transmitting the virus is less than 1 percent.
He also recommended that those over age 60 and with underlying health conditions stay home.
Around Galveston, Kesier said he’s seen some businesses working hard to protect customers and employees, but also others that don’t have proper social distancing.
“We’re calling on people (to) wear masks, pay attention to social distancing. If you go out and go into an establishment and it doesn’t feel safe, leave,” said Keiser. “There’s lots of other places that are working hard to keep you safe.”
