HOOUSTON – Texas saw an increase of 8,029 COVID-19 cases Wednesday — a second consecutive single-day record — as Texas Medical Center hospitals exceeded 100 percent of their ICU capacity for the first time during the pandemic.
The statewide case total rose from 164,724 to 172,753, according to a Houston Chronicle analysis. Another 52 new deaths brought the state’s fatality count to 2,509. Texas has now reported an average of 6,157 new cases per day over the last week, continuing the streak of 22 straight increases in the rolling average.
The Houston region’s count is 45,680, up 2,007 from yesterday, with 545 total deaths. Harris County added 1,437 new cases for a total of 32,859.The local spike in COVID-19 cases for the first time forced Texas Medical Center hospitals to convert regular floor beds into intensive care beds. The medical center had exceeded its ICU capacity of 1,330 beds, triggering “Phase 2” of the hospitals’ surge plans, which add 373 additional ICU beds.As of Wednesday, 1,350 patients had been admitted to the ICU, 480 of whom were diagnosed with the virus.
Statewide, there were 6,904 patients hospitalized for lab-confirmed COVID-19. There are 12,894 beds available and 1,322 in the ICU. There are 5,622 ventilators available.
