AUSTIN, Tx — Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is insisting the state’s health care system can handle the fast-rising number of new coronavirus cases and hospitalizations as it pushes forward with aggressive moves to reopen its economy.

Abbott also pointed to Texans who may have become lax in wearing masks or practicing other social distancing measures as the state hit new record highs in new cases and hospitalizations. He urged them to take greater responsibility for stopping the spread of the pandemic and to stay home as much as possible.

“It does raise concerns, but there is no reason right now to be alarmed,” Abbott said of the rising numbers of cases.

Tuesday marked the eighth time in nine days the state set a new high for hospitalizations of COVID-19 patients with 2,518 and a jump of nearly 200 patients from Monday. That’s more 1,000 more patients than Memorial Day, which had been the lowest day in more than a month.

State health officials also reported 2,622 new cases, a single-day high.

Texas began aggressively re-opening its economy on May 1 and the Republican Abbott has continued to relax restrictions.