Harris County coronavirus count: Hispanic population bearing brunt of recent increase in deaths

A total of 1,492 new cases of COVID-19 were confirmed in Harris County on July 23, along with 21 deaths caused by the virus. The total number of COVID-19 deaths in Harris County now stands at 596, with 88 of those having been confirmed in the past week.

Of the 88 deaths to have been confirmed in Harris County over the past week, more than half—or 45 total—have been Hispanic/Latino, according to county data.

Roughly two weeks ago, on July 8, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo issued a joint statement with the Consul General of Mexico warning of recent research that showed the coronavirus having a "disproportionately heavy impact" on the Hispanic and Latino population, with those residents being three times as likely to be infected by the virus and nearly twice as likely to die from it, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The Black population continues to be overrepresented in the death tallies as well in Harris County, making up roughly 23% of the total deaths compared to 20% of the overall county population.

Of the 61,416 total cases in the county, the race is unknown in about 46% of cases, despite being unknown in only 4% of deaths. Of the remaining 33,187 cases, about 47% have infected Hispanic/Latino people, 26% have infected White people, 22% have infected Black people, and 4% have infected Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders.

Meanwhile, occupancy in Harris County intensive care units rose to 686 patients on July 23, up from 613 on July 22 but down from 726 one week ago on July 16, according to the Southeast Texas Regional Advisory Council. Base ICU capacity in the Texas Medical Center is still completely full, and surge occupancy has risen to about 27%, up from 5% two days ago. TMC officials still do not expect to have to move into the next phase of surge capacity within the next two weeks.