06/28/2020 - 07/04/2020
While they say everything is bigger in Texas, I think most Texans would prefer coronavirus numbers to stop growing. Naturally, the main story of the week was about the record breaking rise in cases, not only in Texas, but predominantly in Bexar County, which includes San Antonio. This has also caused a strain in hospitals all across San Antonio, meaning it’s not just happening in Houston anymore.
Turns out, 74% of all of San Antonio’s Coronavirus cases have occurred during the month of June alone.
In addition to the hospitals Houston being at capacity, two other hospital systems w/in Texas also found themselves at capacity this week too.
Officials in Austin, capital of Texas, this week said they were on the verge of issuing new stay at home orders.
Despite the avalanche of continued bad news, Texans can at least take solace in the fact that they don’t live in Florida which continues to see record numbers of COVID-19 cases or Arizona, where the Mexican government has closed parts of the border to Americans.
One would think the rise in COVID-19 cases in Texas would compel Texas officials to want to listen to the experts on these matters, but the Lt. Gov. of Texas put the kibosh on that idea during a recent interview on Fox News, saying “The only thing I’m skipping over is listening to him. He has been wrong every time, on every issue. I don’t need his advice anymore.” Keep in mind, Lt. Gov. Pattrick of Texas is the same guy that said old people should sacrifice themselves to save he economy in the early weeks of the Coronavirus pandemic in Texas, so he might not be the best judge of what counts as expert opinion. Or anything really.
Speaking of the economy, remember when Lt. Gov of Texas said that a failing economy is more important than a major global pandemic? Several bar owners in Texas are creating a super inappropriate “Bar lives matter” concert as a way to show their frustration with having to be shut down a second time since opening up way to soon the first time didn’t seem to work out to well.
A few weeks ago, Texas grocery chain HEB was beginning to relax some restrictions about wearing masks, while Erika Paradise and I were getting used to being able to buy toilet paper and a few other essential items again. But this week, HEB announced for a second time that masks were mandatory and that they were again limiting the purchases of certain items (like toilet paper and brisket). At least they continue to be more transparent about their stores and employees than certain national chains.
Bill Miller’s BBQ, another Texas mainstay chain, decided to close down it’s dining rooms again due to the rise in Coronavirus cases.
This week also saw my work schedule change again. While I had been doing training for the last few Thursdays (mostly only an hour or two), I have now been switched to Fridays again.
Not to be outdone by the confusing and unclear response of state officials like Gov. Abbott of Texas, San Antonio Officials issued a vague order requiring temperature checks, only to back off of it in less than 24 hours and say it was highly recommended for both employees and customers while no going into any more detail about it. Cool.
As the week continued with more upsetting news regarding the rising number of COVID-19 cases in San Antonio, Erika Paradise and myself have been pondering a move to areas with way less cases in the US, or maybe even areas with little to no cases in the world. But then we remembered that it wouldn't matter since we’re from Texas and would probably be quarantined ASAP soon as anyone saw where we were coming from.
After weeks of ignoring the pleas of not just by San Antonio officials, but also officials all over Texas about mandating face coverings due to the record surge of Coronavirus cases in Texas, the Governor of Texas finally decided to listen to the experts and mandate face coverings, taking more steps to slow the spread again instead of seemingly just waiting and wishing it away when lifted restrictions in May. Maybe he watched the TikToc video of certain San Antonio native that went viral this week.
I like how Texas burger chain Whataburgr still finds time (and sanity) amidst this global pandemic to introduce new burgers.
Despite Texas beginning to slow it's role in reopening, other Texas officials have decided the best approach is one step forward and two back because Texas GOP officials want to have a mask-less, social distance free convention for Trump in two weeks. I bet that will go well and nobody will get sick from it, just like in Tulsa, or Arizona.
Speaking of people wishing the Coronavirus away, the 45th President of the U.S., who, according to himself has a natural ability for these things because his Uncle got a doctorate from M.I.T, Trump again on Wednesday in an interview said that the coronavirus is ‘going to just disappear, hopefully.” despite a new record of cases set by the U.S. This time I guess he meant it, unlike the 20 other times Trump basically wished the virus would just disappear. Now i’m no doctor, but i’m pretty sure medicine and immunology doesn't work like that. Could be wrong though, I went to school for Advertising.
In the midst of a global pandemic and national unrest over police brutality, especially toward African Americans (and also the lame unrest surrounding wearing a face covering), the 45th President of the United States spoke at Mt. Rushmore about… preserving monuments. Glad to see he has his priorities all figured out.
July 4, 20
San Antonio Mayor had a simple message for San Antonians, “Happy 4th and please please please please please please wear a mask and don't gather in groups. Please. “ Hospital workers an officials also have a similar message.
I spent majority of the day (5am - 3pm) indoors, working from home.
We made Mexican food. And by we I mean Erika Paradise because as mentioned previously, I was working most of the day. Feliz Quatro de Julio!!
Hopefully the fireworks set off by randos today don’t distract fire department EMT’s from COVID-19 runs like San Antonio officials have warned.
Some good news for San Antonio as the city has dropped to #5 on the list of cities with the fastest COVID-19 growth. YaY. But I guess it doesn't matter since, according to Trump in the next few days, we’re all just going to have to live with the virus from now on. Awesome. Or, according to our stable genius President, it could all just disappear, hopefully.
An actual statement by the 45th President from way back in March.