COVID-19 in Houston: the UK variant found in 31 of 39 water treatment plants, says city

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) – According to Houston Health Authority Dr. David Persse, the UK version is found “in large quantities” and is spreading rapidly throughout the city.

He said that on February 8, the British version was found in 21 of the 39 wastewater treatment plants in the city. Fourteen days later, on February 22, he said the variant was found in 31 of 39 treatment plants.

“19% of all viruses tested in the city’s wastewater have a genome that is consistent with the UK variant,” said Persse. “That doesn’t mean that 19% of people in Houston are infected with the UK version … it doesn’t mean that. We know there’s a fairly large amount of the UK version in our community and it’s spreading.”

WHAT ABOUT OTHER VARIANTS?

On Monday afternoon, Persse said wastewater is being tested for other COVID-19 variants, such as the Brazilian and South African variants.

However, the measurements were not completed, so new data were not available for reporting, Persse said.

“We are concerned that people are leaving their guards and not wearing masks and are gathering in ways they would not do,” he said. “Remember, the UK version is the one that spreads much more easily. These viruses are in the community, so the race starts getting as many people vaccinated as possible before the UK version can take over and make us we have another. overvoltage “

NEW NUMBERS

On Monday afternoon, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said the positivity rate in the city is now 13.1%, which has risen since last week.

The city’s health department said this is the second week in a row that the positivity rate has risen slightly.

In addition, the city reported 318 new coronavirus cases, bringing the total number of cases to 175,150. The death toll is now 2,018.

“We are continuing to make progress [and] vaccination of people, but we are far from the immunity of the landing crew, “said Turner.

“READING HOPE”

Texas is two days away from being “100%” open, but Turner offered what he described as “a glimmer of hope.”

During Monday’s session, Turner said the owner of Concrete Cowboy, a popular Houston bar on Washington Avenue, wrote an email to Turner informing him that a planned “masquerade” party had been canceled.

“It was never our intention to host a party where we encourage employers not to wear a mask,” said the e-mail, which was read aloud by Turner during his session. “I am a business owner of several locations in the Washington Corridor, and public safety is our main concern.”

READ MORE: Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner wants cancellation of planned “maskless parties” at bars

The lifting of the Texas mask mandate and several “masquerade parties” have raised concerns about other similar events in other states coming to Texas. Turner said that promoters in states that are not allowed to operate 100% and are required to wear a mask promote bringing these events to cities such as Houston, Dallas and Austin.

Turner said Concrete Cowboy will not open Wednesday night.

“This is not the time to drop our masks or stand guard in the fight against the pandemic,” Turner said.