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Looking at the #COVID19 stats for the Houston area, I have a few observations 1/
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/
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
5/ Next is Brazoria County (Pearland) which has a ludicrously high positive testing rate of 25%. Honestly, we don't know what'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
6/ With only 4 deaths per 100K residents, this region is matching much smaller San Francisco. That's incredible given the incredible state interference! https://www.houstonchronicle.com/opinion/editorials/article/Editorial-Hidalgo-s-mask-order-isn-t-15230105.php
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!
