Texas Gov. Abbott warns COVID spreading at "an unacceptable rate" in sober press conference flanked by scary charts.

He says shutting Texas down is a last resort.

Hopes people & businesses will better comply with state guidelines and wear masks to help "keep Texas open."

Abbott warned if cases double again in the next month he& #39;ll have to take more steps.

Abbott said he and other Texas officials were not pushing masks hard a month ago because cases back then were not rising at rates they are now and there is now better research showing masks are effective at slowing COVID spread.

!! NEW: Texas sets *11th straight* daily record for COVID patients in hospitals: 3,711.

That& #39;s up ***302*** patients in one day!

A 60% increase in one week.

Up 146% since Memorial Day.