Harris County coronavirus count: 2,001 cases, 8 deaths confirmed July 13

Public health officials in Houston and Harris County reported that 2,001 new cases of COVID-19 were confirmed July 13, a new single-day record for the county. The total includes 1,544 new cases in the city of Houston and 457 new cases in Harris County outside of the city.

Eight deaths caused by the coroanvirus were also confirmed July 13, bringing the total number of deaths in the county to 466. Sixty-five deaths have now been confirmed over the past week.

The testing positivity rate in the nine-county Greater Houston area has been hovering around 11% since the end of June, according to data being tracked by the Texas Medical Center. However, new data from the Houston Health Department shows the positivity rate in the city at 26.8%, meaning more than one in four tests conducted by the department are coming back positive.

The department also updated a map showing positivity rates by ZIP code.

... We are sharing our positivity zip code map to help visualize just how widespread this virus is in Houston.Please do not misinterpret this map as an indication of where it’s safe and where it’s not. Everyone need to take precautions everywhere. (2/2) pic.twitter.com/8Ny6iBlpoZ

— Houston Health Dept (@HoustonHealth) July 13, 2020

The number of COVID-19 patients in Harris County intensive care units has held steady over the past four days after rising rapidly for several weeks. A total of 752 confirmed and suspected COVID-19 patients were in ICUs as of July 13, down from 760 the previous day and up from 695 last Monday, July 6.

Base ICU capacity at TMC hospitals remains completely full, and more than half of those beds are now occupied by patients with COVID-19. About 9% of surge capacity beds—or 35 of 373 beds—were occupied as of July 13. Based on current trends, those 373 will not be fully occupied within the next two weeks.