CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Even as Texas enters Phase 3 of reopening, COVID-19 cases are on the rise statewide.
Nueces County has seen a small spike in coronavirus cases this week, with 32 new infections reported since Monday.
Everywhere you go, you’re seeing fewer and fewer people wearing masks. Many call it COVID-fatigue, but it’s a dangerous trend.
“We’ve all grown weary of it,” said David Clark. “For three or four months we’ve been told don’t do anything, don’t go anywhere.”
Clark wasn’t wearing a mask during his trip to the post office Thursday because he forgot it at home, though he does admit to wearing it less lately.
“I have been wearing it, although in the the last week or two I have relaxed wearing it,” said Clark. “I think that we are winding down.”
Others aren’t as confident that the worst is behind us.
“We don’t have all the facts, so just to be on the safe side, I think we should all wear a mask,” said Frances Yuliana.
Yuliana says she’s concerned about a local spike in cases.
Statewide the numbers are also up. While the percentage of positive tests stays steady, on Wednesday, Texas set a new one day high in new cases with 2,504; and hospitalizations with 2,153.
“More people are out in the community, and as you have more people out congregating close together, not everyone is wearing a mask, you have people that get sick from one another,” said Corpus Christi/Nueces Co. Public Health Director Annette Rodriguez..
Rodriguez says the spike could be linked to fewer masks, and with phase three of reopening starting Friday, there will likely be even fewer.
While each previous reopening phase was followed by a significant infection increase, there’s been no public mention of what levels would force a tightening of restrictions.