Texas Medical Center coronavirus updates: New cases plateau, hospitalizations fall compared to previous week

The rate of new COVID-19 cases between Jan. 10-16 has begun to plateau in the Texas Medical Center, according to new data released by TMC hospitals Jan. 17.

Although cases remain high—with an average 13,395 new people testing positive per day between Jan. 10-16—the drastic rise in late December and early January has relaxed. The 13,395 figure is slightly lower than the 13,555 average daily new cases confirmed the week of Jan. 3-10, according to the Texas Medical Center.

A decrease in hospitalizations has also been reported by the TMC and SouthEast Texas Regional Advisory Council. TMC hospitals reported an average 413 new COVID-19 patients were admitted per day between Jan. 10-16, a more than 20% decrease from the previous week.

As of Jan. 15, Texas’s Department of State Health Services has recorded 64 COVID-19-related fatalities in 2022 in Harris County. The DSHS is reporting that 64.6% of Harris County is fully vaccinated.

Due to the large volume of cases, the Harris Health System urges those looking to get tested to not visit hospital emergency centers. The current rise in cases has led to staffing shortages within Houston-area hospitals, according to Dr. Esmaeil Porsa, president and CEO of Harris Health System.

“This increase in COVID[-19] cases and our ongoing health care personnel shortages continue to strain our health care system and others in the community,” Porsa said in a press release.