Texas on brink of record 13K in hospitals as virus surges
FORT WORTH, Texas โ Texas was on the brink Monday of surpassing a record 13,000 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 as the number of new cases after the Christmas holiday continued surging, including Rep. Kay Granger, who said she tested positive upon returning to Washington for the new Congress. She had been scheduled to receive the second dose Wednesday but will now wait until she is through quarantining, said Michelle Koepp, a spokeswoman for Granger. People are expected to get some level of protection within a couple of weeks after the first shot, but full protection may not happen until a couple of weeks after the second shot. Texas has set new highs for hospitalized COVID-19 patients seven times in the past eight days. Nearly 16,000 new cases were reported Monday, and along the U.S- Mexico border, the small Texas city of Roma announced that longtime Police Chief Jose Garcia had died after contracting COVID-19.
HCSO deputy accused of speeding over 120 mph while drunk on Katy Freeway, police say
KATY, Texas โ A Harris County Sheriffโs deputy is accused of speeding over 120 mph while intoxicated on Katy Freeway, according to the Houston Police Department. Deputy Jose Garcia was charged with driving while intoxicated after he was pulled over in the 9800 block of Katy Freeway. According to police, an officer spotted a Tahoe traveling 121 mph in a 60 mph zone. When the officer pulled in behind the Tahoe, the vehicle was clocked at 110 mph in the 60 mph speed zone, police said. When the officer pulled Garcia over, he was described to have bloodshot eyes, smelling of alcoholic beverages.
Harris County restaurant defying orders to shut down dine-in service
Texas Borders Bar and Grill located off the Katy Freeway seemed not to be in compliance with Hidalgoโs county-wide order issued on Monday. Per the order, bars and clubs in Harris County should shut down and restaurants are only permitted to offer drive-thru service, delivery and/or curbside pickup options. According to former Texas Borders Bar and Grill employee Tara Marrocelli, the bar was open as usual. According to Garcia, Texas Roadhouse will now operate all 13 Houston locations with curb-side and drive-thru services only. Fort Bend County Judge KP George issued a similar order to the Harris County guidelines on Tuesday evening.