The governor of Texas is asking hospitals to delay medical procedures that aren’t essential in response to a rise in COVID-19 cases in the state. Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, sent a letter (pdf) to the Texas Hospital Association on Monday requesting “your cooperation to avoid a shortage of hospital capacity.” Abbott noted that the number of patients in hospitals with COVID-19 as a percentage of total hospital capacity is close to exceeding 15 percent and that he issued executive orders last year that forced hospitals to push back some surgeries and procedures. Abbott said he could impose similar measures now but at this time is merely requesting hospitals do so voluntarily because he favors using the least restrictive means of responding to the pandemic. “To that end, I am asking Texas hospitals to take steps to ensure the availability of adequate hospital capacity to care for COVID-19 patients. Among …