Texas Medical Center hospitalizations increase by 36% over two weeks

Texas Medical Center is reporting 2,169 COVID-19 hospitalizations as of Jan. 11, according to its dashboard. That figure represents roughly a 36% increase over the last two weeks, as there were just under 1,600 COVID-19 patients hospitalized as of Dec. 27.

COVID-19 hospitalizations peaked at Texas Medical Center hospitals in July 2020, when there were 2,455 COVID-19 hospitalizations.

Intensive care units remain at surge capacity, with 1,385 ICU beds now occupied—533 of them by COVID-19 patients. Texas Medical Center activated its surge protocols after it reported 1,330 ICU beds were occupied; 373 beds have since been added across the medical center's hospitals, which span nine counties in Greater Houston, including Austin, Brazoria, Chambers, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Liberty, Montgomery, and Waller counties.

The rate at which individuals test positive for the coronavirus has gone down, however, with 13.5% positive out of 4,026 tested as of Jan. 9, down from 15.2% the week prior.

Texas Medical Center also continues to provide vaccinations; the center has administered more than 137,000 COVID-19 doses since shipments began arriving in mid-December. Center hospitals are still distributing vaccines individuals who qualify under Phases 1A and 1B, including front-line health care workers, people age 65 and older, and people age 16 and older with at least one chronic medical condition.