Greg Abbott

Twenty-eight coronavirus vaccination hubs will receive most of the state's next shipment of COVID-19 vaccines this week, with 158,825 doses shipping to providers able to manage large-scale efforts as more doses arrive in the state.

COVID-19 patients have made up more than 15% of total hospital capacity for seven days straight, so occupancy limits are increasing for businesses and elective surgeries must be put on hold.

After a rocky and sluggish start, lawmakers are calling on Gov. Greg Abbott to communicate better and move some groups to the front of the line.

Late Friday, the Texas Supreme Court blocked the Austin and Travis County order to restrict dine-in hours at restaurants over the New Year's Eve weekend.

Mayor Steve Adler said the severity of the COVID-19 situation in Austin requires more drastic measures. El Paso County announced a similar order earlier this month.

The state reports that 163,700 Texans have received at least one dose of the vaccine. About 1.2 million doses have been allocated to providers across the state.

Abbott has stressed the vaccine will not be required for Texans, and on Monday, he specifically said it will not be mandatory for the state's schoolchildren.

The first round of vaccinations comes as Texas is seeing a massive surge in cases. There are currently more than 1.3 million confirmed COVID-19 cases in the state.

Gov. Greg Abbott's administration has about $2 billion remaining -- and less than a month in which to spend it.

The governor said a vaccine could start arriving by mid-December. The state has said health care workers will be the first to receive voluntary vaccinations.