It’s a grim symbol of Texas’ uphill battle with COVID-19: the state has requested five mortuary trailers from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
“We are anticipating a need within the state of Texas for these trailers as Covid cases and hospitalizations continue to increase,” Department of State Health Services spokesperson Doug Loveday told NBC News.
Texas is averaging 80 COVID-19 deaths a day, the highest total since mid-March. Nearly 12,000 Texans are currently hospitalized with the virus. There are only 327 ICU beds available statewide, a paltry number for a population approaching 30 million.
Despite the increasingly dire situation, Republican Governor Greg Abbott has staunchly opposed vaccine or mask mandates. He issued an executive order banning school districts from requiring masks, a move derided by public health experts.