Galveston County COVID-19 hospitalizations decrease by nearly 70% and other updates

As of Oct. 29, there had been 2,061 breakthrough cases in Galveston County, per the GCHD’s Nov. 3 update. COVID-19 cases occurring in people who are fully vaccinated are considered breakthrough cases, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

This equates to an approximate 1% breakthrough rate; nearly 186,500 county residents are fully vaccinated, per the GCHD, a jump from the about 184,500 vaccinated in mid-October. The county is offering vaccines at indoor and drive-thru clinics as well as booster shots for those who qualify.

There are 25 county residents hospitalized with COVID-19 as of Nov. 3, down about 69% from 81 in mid-October. People under the age of 31 represent less than 15% of current total hospitalizations, per the GCHD.

Click here to view the coronavirus dashboard on the health district’s website.

Greater Houston-area COVID-19 updates

According to Oct. 25 Texas Medical Center data, the number of new hospitalizations TMC institutions were seeing each day on average from Oct. 18-24 was 89 patients, down almost 18% from the 108 patients being admitted just a week ago. This number is also nearly 40% down from the 145 patients seen two weeks ago. At their peak, new coronavirus hospitalizations at Texas Medical Center reached 390 during the week of Aug. 16-22. Click here to read more TMC data breakdowns.

The Food and Drug Administration on Oct. 29 authorized the emergency use of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine to include those in the 5-11 age group, the FDA announced in a news release. The Pfizer vaccine for those in the 5-11 age group will require two doses three weeks apart but at a lower dose, 10 micrograms, than that used for those 12 and older, 30 micrograms, the release said. GCHD on Nov. 4 will begin offering COVID-19 vaccines for children ages 5-11, per a Nov. 3 update. Click here to read more about the FDA decision.

Harris County lowered its COVID-19 threat level from Level 1: Red to Level 2: Orange, the system’s second-highest threat level, Judge Lina Hidalgo announced Nov. 3. The move comes as a variety of indicators have demonstrated a decrease in cases, hospitalizations and positivity rates for COVID-19, per the announcement. Read more here.

Hunter Marrow and Andy Yanez contributed to this report.