“Texas hit a grim new milestone this week as its number of COVID-19 cases surpassed 1 million. According to data from the Johns Hopkins University of Medicine Coronavirus Resource Center, Texas has reported 1,010,364 confirmed coronavirus cases as of Wednesday, with 19,337 deaths due to the virus. The state, which has grappled with a surge of hospitalizations in El Paso this week, also saw 12,337 new cases and 114 deaths within a 24-hour period. Texas’ numbers are closely trailed by California’s, which has 989,432 confirmed cases, as well as Florida’s, with 852,174 cases. Following closely behind the figures for the Lone Star State are those for the countries of Italy, Mexico and Peru, where cases have surpassed 900,000 for each. The statistics for Texas also place it just behind Colombia, which has 1,155,356 cases, and the U.K., which has 1,237,226 cases. Texas has a population of about 29 million, and each of these nations has more people than that, most of them substantially more. Dr. David Callender, president of the Houston area’s Memorial Hermann Health System, told The Houston Chronicle that the numbers for Texas were “a sobering statistic” that had been exacerbated by politics. “To me, politics entered in an inappropriate way,” Callender said. “People making a political statement with their behavior — that the pandemic is a hoax, that no one can make them wear a mask — really interfered with efforts. It was the wrong mindset.” Texas has struggled with inconsistent governance and guidance from its leaders concerning the coronavirus. Taking cues from President Donald Trump, Gov. Greg Abbott (R) called for an aggressive statewide reopening in May that then was paused in June due to surging infections. In July, Abbott issued a mandatory face mask executive order after initially rallying against wearing the coverings. In September and October, restaurants and bars were allowed to re-open with limited capacity ― though local governments, like Harris County in Houston, have kept bars closed. Former Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D-Texas), an El Paso resident, slammed Abbott’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic in July, claiming that the governor had demonstrated “one of the most craven, callous failures of leadership” that he’d ever witnessed.
Trump Administration Lowballs Unemployment Benefits In New COVID-19 Offer
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["The latest stimulus offer from the White House comes with one-time $600 payments for most Americans and a lump of coal for the unemployed. The new proposal offered by Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin swapped the $3...
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["New results on a possible COVID-19 vaccine from Oxford University and AstraZeneca suggest it is safe and about 70% effective, but questions remain about how well it may help protect those over 55 — a key concern for...
Madonna Unveils Her ‘Very First’ Tattoo In Honor Of Her 6 Children
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["Ever the evolving style icon, Madonna is sporting some fresh ink. The Queen of Pop revealed her “very first” tattoo on social media late Monday. In a series of photos posted on Instagram, the singer is seen visitin...
COVID-19 Deaths, Georgia Elections And Trump Pardons: Views From HuffPost Readers
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["HuffPost Illustration In a recent poll, one of HuffPost members’ top-requested features was a roundup of reader comments. Every week, HuffPost editors read your comments on our top stories and highlight those that c...
Which Essential Workers Should Get Vaccinated First? States Face A Painful Decision
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["When the coronavirus pandemic first started, John Costa, president of the Amalgamated Transit Union, lost sleep wondering if the bus drivers that his union represents should be pulled off the job to avoid getting si...
Singer Jeremih Leaves Hospital After COVID-19 Battle, Says He’s ‘Forever Grateful’
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["Singer Jeremih has been released from the Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago after battling COVID-19 during his stay, his family said. The 33-year-old R&B artist, whose real name is Jeremy Felton, thanked th...
Tuesday Is ‘V-Day’ In Britain; First Citizens Will Get COVID-19 Vaccine
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["LONDON (AP) — It’s been dubbed “V-Day” in Britain ― recalling the D-Day landings in France that marked the start of the final push in World War II to defeat Nazi Germany. A week after the U.K. became the first Weste...
Selma Blair And Sarah Michelle Gellar Redo ‘Cruel Intentions’ Kiss For COVID-19 Era
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["More than 20 years after they co-starred in “Cruel Intentions,” Selma Blair and Sarah Michelle Gellar continue to find ways to reference their legendary screen kiss. The actors made a virtual appearance at Sunday’s...