Reopened Texas sees a surge in COVID-19 cases with 1,000 new daily infections over five consecutive days after state lifted lockdown measures two weeks ago

Texas has seen a surge in coronavirus cases with more than 1,000 new infections reported over five consecutive days after the state reopened at the beginning of the month. 

With 1,145 new infections recorded on Tuesday, the state's total number of COVID-19 cases is now at just over 41,700 and more than 1,100 Texans have died from the virus. 

In the two weeks since Texas lifted its coronavirus lockdown measures, daily infections have only dropped below 1,000 twice on May 4 and May 10.

The state recorded daily new infections of more than 1,000 over five consecutive days last week.

With 1,145 new infections recorded on Tuesday, the state's total number of COVID-19 cases is now at just over 41,700

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With 1,145 new infections recorded on Tuesday, the state's total number of COVID-19 cases is now at just over 41,700. Republican Governor Greg Abbott started easing restrictions on some businesses and allowed the state's stay-at-home order to expire on May 1

Republican Governor Greg Abbott started easing restrictions on some businesses and allowed the state's stay-at-home order to expire on May 1. 

Retail stores, restaurants, movie theaters and malls could reopen at a 25 percent reduced capacity from May 1. 

State parks were allowed to reopen from April 20 and hospitals were allowed to resume elective surgeries from April 22. 

Mobile data compiled by Google for Texas shows that 16 percent of residents are still staying home despite restrictions being lifted.

Visits to parks have increased by 16 percent throughout the pandemic but visits to workplaces have declined 42 percent and transport hubs by 34 percent.

A forecast model relied on by the White House is predicting that 3,092 people will die in Texas by August.

Revisions to the model is projecting a total of 147,000 Americans could die by August - an increase of 10,000 on projections from just two days ago - due to the easing of social distancing measures. 

More than 1,100 people have so far died from coronavirus across Texas

A forecast model relied on by the White House is predicting that 3,092 people will die in Texas by August

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Mobile data compiled by Google for Texas shows that 16 percent of residents are still staying home despite restrictions being lifted

The latest forecast from the University of Washington's Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation reflects changes in testing and mobility and social distancing measures being lifted.  

It comes as top infectious disease expert Dr Anthony Fauci warned Congress on Tuesday that a premature lifting of lockdowns could lead to additional outbreaks of COVID-19.

Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told a Senate panel that the virus epidemic is not yet under control in areas of the nation.

'I think we're going in the right direction, but the right direction does not mean we have by any means total control of this outbreak,' Fauci said. 

He urged states to follow the recommendations of health experts to wait for signs including a declining number of new infections before reopening.

President Donald Trump, who previously made the strength of the economy central to his pitch for his November re-election, has been encouraging states to end weeks-long closures and reopen businesses that had been deemed non-essential amid the pandemic.