Texas becomes the first state in the US to surpass 1 MILLION coronavirus infections - more than former hotspot Italy - as COVID cases surge across the nation

Texas has become the first US state with more than 1 million confirmed COVID-19 cases, which is more than all of Italy, as the nation continues to face a surge of infections, according to data from Johns Hopkins University early Wednesday.

The nation's second-most populous state has recorded 1,010,364 coronavirus cases with 19,337 deaths since the pandemic began in early March, according to the count on the Johns Hopkins website.

Texas now has more coronavirus cases than all of Italy, which was previously one of the major hot spots of the virus. 

California is not far behind with more than 986,000 confirmed cases. Florida is third with 852,000. New York, which was once the epicenter of the virus, has less than 600,000 cases, as does every other state.  

Texas has become the first US state with more than 1 million confirmed COVID-19 cases as the nation continues to face a surge of infections, according to data from Johns Hopkins University early Wednesday

Texas had recently surpassed California, the most populous state, in recording the highest number of positive coronavirus tests. 

The true number of infections is likely higher because many people haven't been tested, and studies suggest people can be infected and not feel sick.

Texas recorded 10,865 cases on Tuesday, setting a new daily record that surpassed by 74 cases an old mark set July 15, state officials said. 

According to state figures on Tuesday, an estimated 132,146 cases are active, the most since August 17, and 6,170 COVID-19 cases are hospitalized, the most since August 18.

There were 94 new deaths Tuesday, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services.

Meanwhile, cases of the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 are surging in the Laredo area as the borderlands remained a COVID-19 hotbed Tuesday, health officials said.

Laredo health officials reported 331 new cases Tuesday of the coronavirus, the most since the August 10 peak of 374 cases. 

That brought the area's case count for the pandemic since the beginning of March to 16,558. Of those, 934 cases are active, the most in two months, and 73 require hospitalization. 

More than 6,100 people are hospitalized in Texas, which is a little more than half of what it was this summer, when hospitals along the US-Mexico border were overwhelmed and officials pleaded for a pop up medical facility

More than 10 million Americans have been infected with the coronavirus 

Record number of COVID patients in US hospitals as more than 61,000 seek treatment

The United States has hit a record number of coronavirus hospitalizations amid the pandemic with more than 61,000 Americans currently being treated.

There were 61,964 people being treated for COVID-19 in hospitals nationwide on Tuesday, according to COVID Tracking Project data. 

That toll surpassed the previous single-day high of 59,780 hospitalizations recorded back in April at the peak of the first coronavirus wave and the peak 59,718 hospitalizations in July.  

Infections across the country have been surging since early October with the seven-day rolling average for cases now at more than 100,000. 

Despite the huge surge in cases and hospitalizations, the number of Americans dying from COVID-19 is not rising at the same rates.

The seven-day rolling average for deaths is currently just under 1,000 per day and is at its highest point since August. 

Yet deaths, which are a lagging indicator and can potentially rise weeks after infections, are still down from the peak 2,000 fatalities recorded per day back in April.      

Texas, which accounts for 10 per cent of total US cases, is the hardest-hit state and became the first to surpass a million coronavirus cases in the America this week. 

There are currently 6,170 people hospitalized for the virus, with 1,828 in the ICU. 

One new death was reported Tuesday, bringing the city's COVID-19 death toll to 367.

The surge comes as El Paso, another border city, grapples with a recent tsunami of cases. 

Another 1,292 cases were reported in El Paso County on Tuesday, bringing its pandemic count to 65,651 with 27,895 cases now active and 1,076 requiring hospitalization. Nine new deaths brought the county's COVID-19 death toll to 682.

The higher counts come amid intensive testing in both places and statewide.

Local officials said they will have to started using mobile morgues to hold the bodies of those who died from the virus. 

More than 6,100 people are hospitalized in Texas, which is a little more than half of what it was this summer, when hospitals along the US-Mexico border were overwhelmed and officials pleaded for a pop up medical facility. 

Dallas County officials said Tuesday that COVID-19 cases accounted for about 21 per cent of all emergency department visits in the county. 

According to judge Clay Jenkins, the county reported 1,401 new cases on Tuesday, which is 'the largest we have ever seen other than days when large backlogs were recorded'.

'Our COVID-19 outbreak is spiking dangerously,' Jenkins said. 'We are 7-10 days away from reaching our highest COVID hospitalization census to date if we do not immediately renew our resolve and change our behaviors.'

In a statement released Tuesday, Gov Gre Greg Abbott said Texas has prepared allocation plans to swiftly distribute medicines and vaccines that are now becoming available to treat the virus. 

'Swift distribution of vaccines and medical treatments will begin to heal those suffering from COVID-19, slow the spread of the virus, and aid in reducing hospitalizations of Texans,' Abbott said. 

'As we anticipate the arrival of COVID-19 vaccines and treatments, the State of Texas is prepared to quickly distribute those medicines to Texans who voluntarily choose to use them.'

His press release was referring to the US Food and Drug Administration 's decision on Monday to authorize the immediate use of the first medical treatment developed for people who contract COVID-19. 

An antibody drug by Eli Lilly & Co, called bamlanivimab, has been shown to improve the symptoms of people who contract the virus and prevent hospitalizations.

The FDA said the drug is authorized for patients at high risk of progressing to severe COVID-19, including people 65 and older, or who have certain pre-existing medical conditions.

Lilly is expected to immediately ship approximately 80,000 doses across the country, including Texas, at no cost to the states. Lilly should have up to one million doses by the end of the year.  

The Department of State Health Services in Texas has already developed a Vaccine Distribution Plan and is working with health care providers to enroll in their Immunization Program to be eligible to administer these vaccines once available. 

Over 2,500 providers have already enrolled in the program.