Hospitalizations of coronavirus patients on the rise, hit all-time high in Texas
The number of patients hospitalized with the novel coronavirus in Texas reached an all-time high Tuesday after breaking records nearly every day in the past week.
According to the Texas Department of State Health Services, 2,518 COVID-19 patients were hospitalized Tuesday — a jump of 192 patients from the previous record of 2,326 hospitalized on Monday.
Texas has set records for hospitalizations eight of the past nine days. Hospitalizations broke records three days in a row at the start of last week, and then dropped down slightly to 2,008 patients on Thursday. They went on to hit records again with 2,166 patients Friday, 2,242 patients Saturday and 2,287 patients Sunday.
Hospitalizations have been trending upward since late May, and have increased by about 66% since the 1,511 patients hospitalized on Memorial Day. Before last week, the previous record for hospitalizations was on May 5, with 1,888 patients.
Hospitalizations are one of the key metrics Gov. Greg Abbott has said he is assessing, and he is expected to give an update on Texas’ hospital capacity at 1 p.m. Tuesday.
In interviews with television stations across the state Monday, he stressed there remains plenty of hospital beds.
“Even though more hospital beds are occupied by those who have COVID-19, there are an abundant number of hospital beds that are available, whether it be in Lubbock or these large cities,” Abbott KLBK-TV in Lubbock on Monday. “So we will be able to make sure that we can treat and provide health care for anyone who tests positive for COVID-19.”
As of Tuesday morning, DSHS reported 14,993 available hospital beds, 1,675 intensive care unit beds and 5,869 available ventilators. Abbott has previously raised the possibility of reinstating temporary bans on elective medical procedures to increase hospital capacity if needed.
COVID-19 Hospitalizations over Time
Coronavirus daily hospitalization counts in Texas and the larger Trauma Service Areas, beginning April 8, 2020. Data provided by Texas Health and Human Services.
The state’s infection rate — how many cases are positive out of the number tested — has been trending upward since late May. Meanwhile, Texas has continued with its phased reopening of businesses. Restaurants were allowed to increase their capacity to 75% Friday.
Abbott told KAVU-TV in Victoria Monday night that the uptick in cases has been connected to increased mass testing in hot spots like prisons, people gathering for Mother’s Day and Memorial Day weekend, and more people in their twenties testing positive, “and it seems like it could be associated with them going to bars.”
“It doesn’t really deal with opening up per se, but what it does deal with are these one-offs, if you would, that we can identify,” Abbott said.
Public health experts have said it’s not entirely unexpected that the number of cases is increasing as businesses reopen and people begin to gather and venture outside. However, they stressed that in light of the recent uptick in hospitalizations and cases, Texans must continue to take precautions and socially distance as much as possible.
A recent study by researchers from Texas A&M University and UT Austin found that wearing a face mask is one of the most effective ways to prevent the transmission of COVID-19.
As of Monday afternoon, DSHS was reporting 89,108 confirmed cases, 1,983 COVID-19 related deaths and over 1.3 million viral tests.
This story was originally published June 16, 2020 at 10:57 AM with the headline "Hospitalizations of coronavirus patients on the rise, hit all-time high in Texas."
