Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) requested assistance from the federal government for coronavirus testing sites, additional medical personnel and monoclonal antibody treatments as the rapidly spreading omicron variant causes an increase in cases and hospitalizations in his state.

“Detecting COVID-19 and preventing COVID-related hospitalizations are critical to our fight against this virus,” Abbott said in a statement Friday.

Abbott requested additional testing sites in Bexar, Cameron, Dallas, Harris, Hidalgo and Tarrant counties, chosen because of their growing positivity rates and hospitalizations. As of Dec. 31, Harris ranked fifth in the number of confirmed cases by county in the U.S., according to Johns Hopkins University.