A woman puts on medical personal protection equipment as she displays it for media members, at an exhibition hall that has been converted into a makeshift treatment facility to treat patients of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Hong Kong, China August 1, 2020. REUTERS/Pak Yiu

An exhibition hall that has been converted into a makeshift treatment facility to treat patients of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is pictured in Hong Kong, China August 1, 2020. REUTERS/Pak Yiu

Bed area is seen at an exhibition hall that has been converted into a makeshift treatment facility to treat patients of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is pictured in Hong Kong, China August 1, 2020. REUTERS/Pak Yiu

An exhibition hall that has been converted into a makeshift treatment facility to treat patients of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is pictured in Hong Kong, China August 1, 2020. REUTERS/Pak Yiu

A bed is seen at an exhibition hall that has been converted into a makeshift treatment facility to treat patients of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Hong Kong, China August 1, 2020. REUTERS/Pak Yiu

A body is seen in the backyard of the emergency station at the Hospital de Clinicas, amid the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in La Paz, Bolivia, July 26, 2020. Picture taken July 26, 2020. REUTERS/David Mercado

People wearing protective suits wait for health information about their relatives infected with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) at the Hospital de Clinicas, in La Paz, Bolivia, July 31, 2020. REUTERS/David Mercado

Health workers help a man who lies on the floor, amid the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), at the emergency station of the Hospital de Clinicas, in La Paz, Bolivia, July 23, 2020. Picture taken July 23, 2020. REUTERS/David Mercado

A woman wearing a protective suit waits for health information about her relative infected with coronavirus disease (COVID-19) at the Hospital de Clinicas, in La Paz, Bolivia, July 26, 2020. Picture taken July 26, 2020. REUTERS/David Mercado

A health worker inside a protective cabin takes a swab sample from a colleague for a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) test at the Hospital de Clinicas, in La Paz, Bolivia, July 31, 2020. REUTERS/David Mercado

A man speaks on his mobile phone as he leaves Thelle Mogoerane Regional Hospital, amid a nationwide coronavirus disease (COVID-19) lockdown, in Vosloorus, outside Johannesburg, South Africa July 28, 2020. Picture taken July 28, 2020. REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko

A man wearing a protective mask leaves Thelle Mogoerane Regional Hospital, amid a nationwide coronavirus disease (COVID-19) lockdown, in Vosloorus, outside Johannesburg, South Africa July 28, 2020. Picture taken July 28, 2020. REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko

Juliana Cabral, 22, carries a cup of tea for her father (not pictured) who was hospitalized in the ICU to be treated for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) after she tested positive IgG rapid test in Quilombo Peropava, an afro-descendent community, first established by escaped slaves in Registro, Sao Paulo state, Brazil July 29, 2020. Picture taken July 29, 2020. REUTERS/Amanda Perobelli

Juliana Cabral, 22, carries a cup of tea for her father (not pictured) who was hospitalized in the ICU to be treated for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) after she tested positive antibodies IgG in Quilombo Peropava, an afro-descendent community, first established by escaped slaves in Registro, Sao Paulo state, Brazil July 29, 2020. Picture taken July 29, 2020. REUTERS/Amanda Perobelli

Juliana Cabral, 22, hands a cup of tea to her father, Valdir Cabral Goncalves, 62, who was hospitalized in the ICU to be treated for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), after she tested positive antibodies IgG in Quilombo Peropava, an afro-descendent community, first established by escaped slaves in Registro, Sao Paulo state, Brazil July 29, 2020. Picture taken July 29, 2020. REUTERS/Amanda Perobelli

Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT) leave with a patient at Hialeah Hospital where the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patients are treated, in Hialeah, Florida, U.S., July 29, 2020. REUTERS/Marco Bello

Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT) leave with a patient at Hialeah Hospital where the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patients are treated, in Hialeah, Florida, U.S., July 29, 2020. REUTERS/Marco Bello

Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT) leave with a patient at Hialeah Hospital where the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patients are treated, in Hialeah, Florida, U.S., July 29, 2020. REUTERS/Marco Bello TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

An officer of the Special Force against Crime (FELCC) talks to women who brought a deceased newborn at the 'Corazon de Jesus' Hospital, amid the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in El Alto, outskirts of La Paz, Bolivia, July 28, 2020. Picture taken July 28, 2020. REUTERS/David Mercado

A health worker sprays disinfectant near the bodies, that officers of the Special Force Against Crime (FELCC) transported to the 'Hospital de Clinicas', amid the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in La Paz, Bolivia, July 27, 2020. Picture taken July 27, 2020. REUTERS/David Mercado

An officer of the Special Force against Crime (FELCC) talks to the media at the 'Corazon de Jesus' Hospital, amid the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in El Alto, outskirts of La Paz, Bolivia, July 28, 2020. Picture taken July 28, 2020. REUTERS/David Mercado

An officer of the Special Force Against Crime (FELCC) inspects the body of a deceased newborn at a room of the 'Corazon de Jesus' hospital, amid the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in El Alto outskirts of La Paz, Bolivia, July 28, 2020. Picture taken July 28, 2020. REUTERS/David Mercado

Riley Harrison, 67, who has been hospitalised with COVID-19, lies on a hospital bed as he watches television, at United Memorial Medical Center (UMMC), during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Houston, Texas, U.S., July 25, 2020. "I couldn't breathe," Harrison said. "If you got a death wish, play with COVID." REUTERS/Callaghan O'Hare SEARCH "COVID-19 HOUSTON VARON" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES.

Larissa Raudales, 18, who has been hospitalised with COVID-19, sits on a hospital bed as she is checked on by Fernando Olvera, 26, a medical student, at United Memorial Medical Center (UMMC), during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Houston, Texas, U.S., July 25, 2020. "I was terrified... I thought I couldn't breathe anymore," Raudales said. "I just thought I was going to practically die right there." REUTERS/Callaghan O'Hare SEARCH "COVID-19 HOUSTON VARON" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES.

Fernando Olvera, 26, a medical school student, helps Efrain Guevara, 63, who has been hospitalised with COVID-19, get up from his hospital bed, at United Memorial Medical Center (UMMC), during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Houston, Texas, U.S., July 17, 2020. REUTERS/Callaghan O'Hare TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY SEARCH "COVID-19 HOUSTON VARON" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

Efrain Guevara, 63, who has been hospitalised after being diagnosed with COVID-19, lies on a hospital bed at United Memorial Medical Center (UMMC), during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Houston, Texas, U.S., July 17, 2020. REUTERS/Callaghan O'Hare SEARCH "COVID-19 HOUSTON VARON" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES.

The scene inside United Memorial Medical Center in Houston has become all too familiar: Overwhelmed medical staff fighting to curb the wave of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patients that come through the hospital's doors every day. While in earlier pandemic hot spots like New York the medical emergency has subsided, Texas is among the many U.S. states battling a resurgence of the virus that is straining their healthcare systems. Dr. Joseph Varon, the chief medical officer of United Memorial Medical Center (UMMC,) said he is afraid he will soon face a dilemma many doctors elsewhere said they confronted earlier in the pandemic: Deciding who to save. "I'm afraid that at some point in time I'm going have to make some very serious decisions," he told Reuters in an interview. "I'm starting to get the idea that I cannot save everybody." Varon, 58, is overseeing the hospital's unit dedicated to COVID-19 patients, where he said he tends to an average of 40 people a day. He said he signed more death certificates in the last week than at any point in his career. REUTERS/Callaghan O'Hare TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY SEARCH "COVID-19 HOUSTON VARON" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY Matching Text: HEALTH-CORONAVIRUS/USA-TEXAS

Hector Ortiz-Garcia, 63, who has been hospitalised with COVID-19, texts members of his family from his hospital bed at United Memorial Medical Center (UMMC), during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Houston, Texas, U.S., July 25, 2020. REUTERS/Callaghan O'Hare SEARCH "COVID-19 HOUSTON VARON" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES.

The scene inside United Memorial Medical Center in Houston has become all too familiar: Overwhelmed medical staff fighting to curb the wave of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patients that come through the hospital's doors every day. While in earlier pandemic hot spots like New York the medical emergency has subsided, Texas is among the many U.S. states battling a resurgence of the virus that is straining their healthcare systems. Dr. Joseph Varon, the chief medical officer of United Memorial Medical Center (UMMC,) said he is afraid he will soon face a dilemma many doctors elsewhere said they confronted earlier in the pandemic: Deciding who to save. "I'm afraid that at some point in time I'm going have to make some very serious decisions," he told Reuters in an interview. "I'm starting to get the idea that I cannot save everybody." Varon, 58, is overseeing the hospital's unit dedicated to COVID-19 patients, where he said he tends to an average of 40 people a day. He said he signed more death certificates in the last week than at any point in his career. REUTERS/Callaghan O'Hare TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY SEARCH "COVID-19 HOUSTON VARON" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY Matching Text: HEALTH-CORONAVIRUS/USA-TEXAS

Vietnamese construction workers infected with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) arrive at the tropical diseases hospital after being repatriated from Equatorial Guinea via a specially-adapted Vietnam Airlines plane filled with medical equipment and negative pressure chambers, in Hanoi, Vietnam July 29, 2020. REUTERS/Kham

A health worker in a white protective suit sprays disinfectant at Vietnamese construction workers infected with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), upon their arrival at the tropical diseases hospital after being repatriated from Equatorial Guinea via a specially-adapted Vietnam Airlines plane filled with medical equipment and negative pressure chambers, in Hanoi, Vietnam July 29, 2020. REUTERS/Kham

Health workers in white protective suits spray disinfectant at Vietnamese construction workers infected with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), upon their arrival at the tropical diseases hospital after being repatriated from Equatorial Guinea via a specially-adapted Vietnam Airlines plane filled with medical equipment and negative pressure chambers, in Hanoi, Vietnam July 29, 2020. REUTERS/Kham

Health workers spray disinfectant at each other after escorting Vietnamese construction workers infected with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) from an airport to the tropical diseases hospital, after they were repatriated from Equatorial Guinea via a specially-adapted Vietnam Airlines plane filled with medical equipment and negative pressure chambers, in Hanoi, Vietnam July 29, 2020. REUTERS/Kham

Vietnamese construction workers in blue protective suits, infected with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), arrive at the tropical diseases hospital after being repatriated from Equatorial Guinea via a specially-adapted Vietnam Airlines plane filled with medical equipment and negative pressure chambers, in Hanoi, Vietnam July 29, 2020. REUTERS/Kham

Vietnamese construction workers infected with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) arrive at the tropical diseases hospital after being repatriated from Equatorial Guinea via a specially-adapted Vietnam Airlines plane filled with medical equipment and negative pressure chambers, in Hanoi, Vietnam July 29, 2020. REUTERS/Kham

Vietnamese construction workers in blue protective suits infected with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) arrive at the tropical diseases hospital after being repatriated from Equatorial Guinea via a specially-adapted Vietnam Airlines plane filled with medical equipment and negative pressure chambers, in Hanoi, Vietnam July 29, 2020. REUTERS/Kham

A soldier wearing a face mask stands atop a vehicle outside the Angeles Pedregal Hospital where according to local media Emilio Lozoya, the former boss of Mexican state oil firm Petroleos Mexicanos, is being treated for health issues before attending an initial court hearing into corruption charges, in Mexico City, Mexico July 28, 2020. REUTERS/Henry Romero

A soldier wearing a face mask stands outside the Angeles Pedregal Hospital where according to local media Emilio Lozoya, the former boss of Mexican state oil firm Petroleos Mexicanos, is being treated for health issues before attending an initial court hearing into corruption charges, in Mexico City, Mexico July 28, 2020. REUTERS/Henry Romero

A soldier wearing a face mask stands atop a vehicle outside the Angeles Pedregal Hospital where according to local media Emilio Lozoya, the former boss of Mexican state oil firm Petroleos Mexicanos, is being treated for health issues before attending an initial court hearing into corruption charges, in Mexico City, Mexico July 28, 2020. REUTERS/Henry Romero

Cameras are seen outside the Angeles Pedregal Hospital where according to local media Emilio Lozoya, the former boss of Mexican state oil firm Petroleos Mexicanos, is being treated for health issues before attending an initial court hearing into corruption charges, in Mexico City, Mexico July 28, 2020. REUTERS/Henry Romero

Members of the media are seen outside the Angeles Pedregal Hospital where according to local media Emilio Lozoya, the former boss of Mexican state oil firm Petroleos Mexicanos, is being treated for health issues before attending an initial court hearing into corruption charges, in Mexico City, Mexico July 28, 2020. REUTERS/Henry Romero

A sign is pictured in front of the Angeles Pedregal Hospital where according to local media Emilio Lozoya, the former boss of Mexican state oil firm Petroleos Mexicanos, is being treated for health issues before attending an initial court hearing into corruption charges, in Mexico City, Mexico July 28, 2020. REUTERS/Henry Romero

A vehicle of the Mexican National Guard is seen outside the Angeles Pedregal Hospital where according to local media Emilio Lozoya, the former boss of Mexican state oil firm Petroleos Mexicanos, is being treated for health issues before attending an initial court hearing into corruption charges, in Mexico City, Mexico July 28, 2020. REUTERS/Henry Romero

Members of the media are seen outside the Angeles Pedregal Hospital where according to local media Emilio Lozoya, the former boss of Mexican state oil firm Petroleos Mexicanos, is being treated for health issues before attending an initial court hearing into corruption charges, in Mexico City, Mexico July 28, 2020. REUTERS/Henry Romero

Rufino, a patient who has recovered from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), gestures next to his son as he leaves from the Juarez Hospital to go to his house in Mexico City, Mexico, July 27, 2020. REUTERS/Edgard Garrido

The arm of Andres, a patient who has recovered from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), is pictured showing bruises after his hospitalisation as he leaves from the Juarez Hospital to go to his house in Mexico City, Mexico, July 27, 2020. REUTERS/Edgard Garrido

A nurse looks on as Hugo, a patient who has recovered from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), leaves from the Juarez Hospital to go to his house in Mexico City, Mexico, July 27, 2020. REUTERS/Edgard Garrido

Ninfa, a patient who has recovered from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), is pictured as she leaves from the Juarez Hospital to go to her house in Mexico City, Mexico, July 27, 2020. REUTERS/Edgard Garrido

A sign that reads, "COVID-19 route only" is seen while Andres, a patient who has recovered from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), leaves from the Juarez Hospital to go to his house in Mexico City, Mexico, July 27, 2020. REUTERS/Edgard Garrido

Ernesto, a patient who has recovered from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), is pictured as he leaves from the Juarez Hospital to go to his house in Mexico City, Mexico, July 27, 2020. REUTERS/Edgard Garrido

Ernesto, a patient who has recovered from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), bumps fists with a medical staff member as he leaves from the Juarez Hospital to go to his house in Mexico City, Mexico, July 27, 2020. REUTERS/Edgard Garrido

Ninfa, a patient who has recovered from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), waves as she leaves from the Juarez Hospital to go to her house in Mexico City, Mexico, July 27, 2020. REUTERS/Edgard Garrido

Ninfa, a patient who has recovered from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), is pictured as she leaves from the Juarez Hospital to go to her house in Mexico City, Mexico, July 27, 2020. REUTERS/Edgard Garrido

Patients who have recovered from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) leave from the Juarez Hospital to go to their houses in Mexico City Mexico, July 27, 2020. REUTERS/Edgard Garrido

Hugo, a patient who recovered from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), looks on as he leaves from the Juarez Hospital to go to his house in Mexico City, Mexico, July 27, 2020. REUTERS/Edgard Garrido

Hugo, a patient who recovered from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), is pictured as he leaves from the Juarez Hospital to go to his house in Mexico City Mexico, July 27, 2020. REUTERS/Edgard Garrido

Rufino, a patient who recovered from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), cries next to his son as he leaves the Juarez Hospital to go to his house in Mexico City Mexico, July 27, 2020. REUTERS/Edgard Garrido

Chicago Police shell casing markers are seen, where a 37-year-old man riding a bicycle was shot and pronounced dead at the hospital according to local media reports, at the West Side of Chicago, Illinois, U.S., July 26, 2020. Picture taken July 26, 2020. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

Chicago Police shell casing markers are seen, where a 37-year-old man riding a bicycle was shot and pronounced dead at the hospital according to local media reports, on the West Side of Chicago, Illinois, U.S., July 26, 2020. Picture taken July 26, 2020. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton