BEAUMONT, Texas — Texas began its first phase of reopening on May 1.
Retail stores, restaurants, theaters and malls were all allowed to open for the first time since closing in mid-March due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Right now under Phase I, businesses must limit capacity to 25%, but they could be allowed to expand to 50% next week if COVID-19 cases are under control.
12News Investigates examined the 14 day trend of coronavirus cases across Texas to get a better indicator about where the state is in the fight against the virus.
Our team looked at three key indicators -- new cases, testing and hospitalizations.
NEW COVID-19 CASES IN TEXAS
There has been a significant increase in new cases of COVID-19 across the state since May 1.
When phase I began, Texas had 29,299 positive cases including 816 fatalities.
On May 1, the state's 14 day average was 831 new cases a day. Since phase I was implemented, the state 14 day average of new COVID-19 cases is 1,126.
13 of the last 14 days have recorded more than 1,000 new cases.
COVID-19 TESTING IN TEXAS
Part of the reason the number of positive cases has increased across Texas is because testing is also increasing across the state.
The state's 14 day average for testing since reopening is 472-thousand per day.
In fact, testing increased from 330,000 tests administered on April 30, the day before reopening, to 623-thousand tests two weeks later.
There has been an increase in testing every day since reopening.
The state also tracks the positivity rate of tests for the previous seven days and numbers have remained relatively steady with one of the most significant dips recorded on May 13.
When Gov. Abbott discussed reopening, he said testing would be key. He said Texas has maximized testing capacity to perform 15,000–20,000 tests a day, with a goal to reach 30,000 per day in the near term with rapid turnaround.
This number does not include private labs that are also testing for the virus.
In addition to testing, the state has said that they will mobilize 4,000 contract tracers to support local counties.
COVID-19 HOSPITALIZATIONS ACROSS TEXAS
Gov. Abbott says the real number to pay attention to is how many people are being hospitalized due to coronavirus.
The Texas 14 day average before phase I reopening was 1,549 lab-confirmed COVID-19 patients in Texas hospitals. 14 days later, the state is reporting 1,648 hospitalizations.
The 14-day average since reopening has increased and is currently 1,693, which is higher than the current number currently being hospitalized.
The highest hospitalization number since tracking began on April 4 was 1,888 on May 5.
PHASE 2 OF REOPENING
Governor Greg Abbott says he intends to move forward with reopening more businesses around the state on May 18.
The next group of businesses that can reopen include gyms and non-essential manufacturers.
Phase 2 of reopening also allows businesses to increase capacity to 50% as long as the state sees "two weeks of data to confirm no flare-up of COVID-19."
"Now it's time to set a new course, a course that responsibly opens up business in Texas," Abbott said "Just as we united as one state to slow COVID-19, we must also come together to begin rebuilding the lives and the livelihoods of our fellow Texans."
The state has not officially announced its intention to move forward with Phase II on May 18.