Galveston County reported seven new deaths from the coronavirus July 18, the highest number to date, according to county health department data.
The county has reported an additional 568 coronavirus cases since July 17, bringing the total case count to 7,479 on July 21. About two-thirds of those cases are currently active, per health department data. The total number of deaths is now 66.
There were 3,565 total cases in the county at the start of July, marking a 110% increase over the course of the month. More than 100 new cases have been reported every day in July.
The average COVID-19 positivity rate in the county has fluctuated between 9% and 12% during July, per health department data. Galveston, League City and Texas City all have more than 1,200 confirmed cases as of July 21.
The county began displaying antibody test results on the database in mid-June. More than 3,450 people have received the testing thus far, with all but 149 of those people testing negative.
Outbreaks at six nursing homes in Friendswood, League City and Texas City have infected a collective 254 people, per health department data. The nursing home outbreaks account for about 8% of the cases in both League City and Texas City and less than 3% of the total cases in Friendswood.
In other state and regional coronavirus-related news for Bay Area residents to know for the week of July 20:
6:30 p.m. July 21: League City City Council reversed a vote made July 14, resulting in League City agreeing to give up to 18% of its CARES Act funding to Galveston County for COVID-19 funding. For more coverage, click here.
6 p.m. July 21: In Kemah, newer and established businesses alike fear having to close their doors for good as the local tourism industry suffers due to the coronavirus pandemic. Click here for more of their insights.
4:30 p.m. July 21: Nearly one month after Gov. Greg Abbott mandated bars close again in a move to soften the surge of coronavirus cases statewide, breweries across Texas may now partially open patios for service. For more coverage, click here.
4 p.m. July 21: Public health workers said that burgeoning coronavirus cases, people not answering their phones and a lack of contact tracers statewide are some of the challenges making contact tracing increasingly difficult across the state. For more coverage, click here.
11:45 a.m. July 21: The University Interscholastic League released modifications to the 2020-21 UIL calendar and updated COVID-19 risk mitigation guidelines that will take effect Aug. 1. For more coverage, click here.
9 a.m. July 21: Clear Creek ISD will not bring students back to campuses Aug. 18 but will instead gradually phase in its brick-and-mortar learners from Aug. 31-Sept. 8 while Clear Connections students begin in late August. The schedule change comes after lengthy debate from the board of trustees during a July 20 special meeting where the board also voted to approve a contract increase, budget increases and capital project fund usage of more than $8 million in total for coronavirus-related expenditures. For more coverage, click here.
3:20 p.m. July 20: Despite a slight decline in the number of COVID-19 patients getting hospitalized across Texas Medical Center, the number of those patients occupying intensive care units increased week over week, according to the medical center’s public data reports. For more coverage, click here.
