Galveston County has reported an additional 149 coronavirus cases since June 22, with the case count totaling 2,415 as of June 24.
The county passed the 1,000-case mark June 8 and hit 2,000 cases about two weeks later on June 23, per the health department’s case count database. A new highest daily positive count was reached June 24, when the county reported 226 cases.
The total includes outbreaks at five nursing homes in Friendswood, League City and Texas City. The outbreaks account for roughly 20% of the total cases in League City and Texas City. A new coronavirus case was confirmed at Friendship Haven Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center during the week of June 22, bringing the facility total to nine—about 5% of the total cases in Friendswood.
The county has had 736 recoveries and 40 deaths since mid-March. No new deaths have been reported since June 11.
Galveston County also began reporting antibody test results in mid-June. A total of 1,178 people have received the testing thus far, with all but 19 of those people testing negative.
Here is other coronavirus-related news for Bay Area residents to know for the week of June 22.
Noon June 26: Earlier this week at a June 22 press conference, Gov. Greg Abbott stated closing down portions of Texas’ economy again would remain the state’s “last option.” Less than one week later, Abbott exercised that option, issuing an executive order that closes all of the state’s bars by noon and restricts restaurant capacity to 50% as of 12:01 a.m. on June 29. For more coverage, click here.
6 a.m. June 26: The city of League City released several updates: the July 3 Fireworks Extravaganza and the July 4 Citizen Appreciation Day Caravan is canceled due to rising coronavirus cases, and water late fees and shutoffs will resume July 1. The League City Emergency Turnaround Taskforce is also encouraging League City employers to allow employees to telecommute and do work from home.
1:30 p.m. June 25: Despite reports that the Texas Medical Center’s base intensive care unit capacity is at its limits, leadership assured the public in a virtual news conference that it had surge plans in place to meet the rising need to treat COVID-19 patients. For more coverage, click here.
Noon June 25: Abbott issued an executive order suspending elective surgeries in four Texas counties, including Harris, to “ensure hospital bed availability for COVID-19 patients,” according to a press release. For more coverage, click here.
7:30 p.m. June 24: As coronavirus cases rise in Houston, funding for the city’s two major drive-thru testing sites is set to expire by the end of the month, health and city officials told Community Impact Newspaper. For more coverage, click here.
