Galveston County has reported an additional 734 coronavirus cases since July 7, bringing the total case count to 5,320 on July 9.
More than 3,700 of the cases are currently active, according to health department data. The county has seen 1,526 recoveries and 50 deaths since mid-March. No new deaths have been reported since July 6.
The total includes outbreaks at six nursing homes in Friendswood, League City and Texas City that have infected a collective 252 people, per health department data. The nursing home outbreaks account for about 11% of the cases in both League City and Texas City, and less than 5% of the total cases in Friendswood.
There were 3,565 total cases in the county at the start of July. The latest total marks a 49% increase in cases over the course of a week. The total case count surpassed 5,000 on July 8. An average of 225 cases a day have been reported in July.
The county also began displaying antibody test results on the database in mid-June. Nearly 2,800 people have received the testing thus far, with all but 79 of those people testing negative.
In other state and regional coronavirus-related news for Bay Area residents to know for the week of July 6:
12:20 p.m. July 9: A little more than 700 new cases of COVID-19 were confirmed in Harris County on July 8, less than half the number confirmed the previous day. The city of Houston confirmed 204 new cases July 8, down from more than 1,000 on July 7, a discrepancy that officials attributed to a "computer system slowdown." For more coverage of Harris County coronavirus data, click here.
12:40 p.m. July 8: Harris County Commissioners Court voted unanimously June 30 to approve the Harris County Small Business Recovery Fund, a $30 million grant program designated for struggling small businesses that have not yet obtained financial assistance from other COVID-19 relief programs. For more coverage, click here.
11:50 a.m. July 8: Galveston County Judge Mark Henry is putting together a countywide COVID-19 business task force. Henry has appointed League City City Council Member Hank Dugie to chair the task force. For more coverage, click here.
7:15 p.m. July 7: School districts and systems across Texas will be required to offer on-campus classes, comply with statewide mask orders and notify parents and staff of any confirmed coronavirus cases within a school during the upcoming school year, according to the latest guidelines released by the Texas Education Agency on July 7. For more coverage, click here.
4 p.m. July 7: The Texas Department of Public Safety has expanded its in-person services to offer more appointments at offices across Texas. For more coverage, click here.
2 p.m. July 7: The 2020 State Fair of Texas has been canceled due to the coronavirus, according to a July 6 news release. This is the eighth time in the fair’s 134-year history that the event has been canceled. For more coverage, click here.
5 p.m. July 6: After a mild scare, most of the 12-member police department in Kemah has tested negative for COVID-19 and returned to normal patrols, Chief Walter Gant said. For more coverage, click here.
