As of Jan. 6, more than 5,000 of the county’s 21,302 total coronavirus cases are considered active—nearly one in four.
The new case count total reflects an average of nearly 200 new cases per day over the last 14 days, with the highest rates of daily positive cases since July, per Galveston County Health District data. The death total is now 182, up 10 since Dec. 23, and case fatality remains at 0.9%.
Galveston and Texas City have seen 3,445 and 3,384 cases, respectively, and Friendswood has seen a total of 1,550 cases, according to GCHD data. More than a quarter of the total cases—6,444, or 30%—have been in League City, and 34% of the 5,027 active cases are in League City.
Nearly 3,900 total cases have been reported among residents ages 21-30, the highest of any age group, and 830 of those cases are considered active as of Jan. 6. Nearly 860 of the active cases countywide are among residents ages 31-40, the highest of any age group.
However, no county residents under age 31 have died from COVID-19. About 6,100 total residents ages 0-30 have recovered from the coronavirus, per GCHD data.
There are 88 county residents hospitalized with COVID-19, mainly concentrated in Texas City and League City. While six of those are residents age 30 and under as of Jan. 6, residents age 61 and older make up more than 60% of the total current hospitalizations. A total of 432 county residents have been hospitalized due to COVID-19 since mid-March.
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As case counts continue to rise in the Bay Area, state data shows COVID-19 hospitalization rates in Galveston, Harris, Brazoria and numerous other surrounding counties will result in tighter restrictions on local businesses.
Data from the Texas Department of State Health Services shows coronavirus hospitalizations in Trauma Service Areas Q and R—which include Galveston, Harris and Brazoria counties—have exceeded 15% of total hospital capacity for the past seven consecutive days. In these service areas alone, 18 total counties will be required to close bars, reduce restaurants to 50% capacity and cancel all elective surgeries in accordance with Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s order GA-32.
The restrictions will stay in effect until there have been seven consecutive days in these areas below the state's 15% threshold. The DSHS can permit counties to continue operating at 75% capacity if fewer than 30 confirmed COVID-19 cases were reported in the last 14 days.
More than 2,900 new Galveston County cases have been reported since Dec. 23.
Efforts are rolling out across the state to provide vaccines, and DSHS data shows about 7,700 Galveston County residents have received at least one dose; 133 have been fully vaccinated. The GCHD received an additional 400 doses this week and offered vaccine appointments to those 65 and older. The appointment slots were filled by the evening of Jan. 6.
