2/ The first challenge is how mixed the testing numbers are. Testing numbers are a function of local officials / institutions (the state is AWOL). Take away @utmbhealth (Galveston) or @LinaHidalgoTX (Harris & Ft Bend) and this is so much worse
3/ The biggest culprit for infections per resident is Walker County, home of the Texas State Prison in Huntsville. Early on @GovAbbott fought local officials who wanted to release jail populations. This decision has been deadly: https://www.texastribune.org/2020/04/10/court-blocks-texas-gov-greg-abbott-order-jail-release-coronavirus/">https://www.texastribune.org/2020/04/1...
4/ Next is the incredible impact of unregulated nursing homes in the region. Washington County has the 2nd most deaths in the region because of local nursing homes: https://www.khou.com/article/news/investigations/coronavirus-brenham-nursing-home-death-covid-19/285-44100359-bb59-4b6c-ae45-efb9969d9186">https://www.khou.com/article/n...
5/ Next is Brazoria County (Pearland) which has a ludicrously high positive testing rate of 25%. Honestly, we don& #39;t know what& #39;s happening because the state refuses to break out nursing home and prison data (Darrington/Rosharon Unit). https://www.tdcj.texas.gov/unit_directory/da.html">https://www.tdcj.texas.gov/unit_dire...
6/ With only 4 deaths per 100K residents, this region is matching much smaller San Francisco. That& #39;s incredible given the incredible state interference! https://www.houstonchronicle.com/opinion/editorials/article/Editorial-Hidalgo-s-mask-order-isn-t-15230105.php">https://www.houstonchronicle.com/opinion/e...
7/7 In aggregate, the Houston area is the best large metro in the US for managing #COVID19, but even in this microcosm of America we can see the effects of an incompetent state coupled with hard working local officials. Science can work if we let it!
Read on Twitter