More than 80 babies test positive for coronavirus in Texas

More than 80 babies have tested positive for coronavirus, a health official on the Texas Gulf Coast said. Corpus Christi Nueces County Public Health Director Annette Rodriguez said on Friday that the 85 infants were all younger than one year, but offered no other details - including how the children are suspected to have become infected. "These babies have not even had their first birthday yet," Ms Rodriguez said. She urged the public to help stop the spread of the disease by staying home except for necessary trips, socially distancing and wearing masks in public. Ms Rodriguez did not return messages for comment on Saturday from The Associated Press. Republican Governor Greg Abbott is also stressing that the widespread use of face coverings could avoid another lockdown, which he has not ruled out. Texas health officials reported more than 10,000 new cases for a fifth consecutive day on Saturday and said 130 more people had died due to Covid-19, bringing the number of reported cases to 317,730 and the number of deaths to 3,865. The true number of cases is likely higher because many people have not been tested, and studies suggest people can be infected and not feel sick.