Coronavirus case trends in Galveston County show while the area seems to have moved past a surge earlier in 2021, counts are gradually rising ahead of spring break.
There are 3,682 active COVID-19 cases as of March 5, down 57% from the 8,580 active cases in early February, according to data from the Galveston County Health District. A total 73 people are hospitalized with COVID-19, also down 57% from the 174 hospitalized in early February.
However, case fatality has increased from 0.9% to 1%. An additional 62 county residents have died from COVID-19 since Feb. 3, putting the total number of deaths since March 2020 at 304.
Half of the deaths have occurred in residents ages 71-90, per GCHD data. No one under the age of 31 has died from COVID-19 in Galveston County, although one resident in the 11-20 age range is currently hospitalized with the virus.
In mid-February, the number of new daily cases was under 50 some days; the current seven-day average is 91, up 88.5% from the 14 days prior, per the GCHD.
More than 3,000 new cases have been reported since Feb. 3. An additional 130 cases were added to the total March 5, putting the total number of cases seen since mid-March 2020 at 30,364.
Of those, 26,378 cases—about 87%—are considered recoveries. A month ago, about two-thirds of cases were considered recoveries.
Galveston and Texas City have seen 4,592 and 4,912 total cases, respectively, and Friendswood has seen 2,271 total cases, according to GCHD data. More than a quarter of the total cases—9,432, or about 31%—have been in League City, and about a third of the currently active cases are in League City.
More than 5,200 total cases have been reported among residents ages 21-30, the most of any age group. More than 550 of those cases are considered active as of March 5. Residents ages 21-50 with COVID-19 account for 45% of the currently active cases.
More than 10,000 residents ages 30 and under have recovered from the coronavirus since March 2020, per GCHD data. A total of 804 county residents have been hospitalized due to COVID-19 since March 2020.
Data from the Texas Department of State Health Services shows as of March 5, Galveston, Harris and Brazoria counties are no longer part of trauma service areas in which the number of patients hospitalized due to COVID-19 has exceeded 15% of all hospital capacity for seven consecutive days.
In accordance with Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s order GA-32, these counties were previously required to keep bars closed, keep restaurants reduced to 50% capacity and cancel all elective surgeries until there had been seven consecutive days below the state’s 15% threshold. The restrictions were first enacted in Galveston County just before Christmas.
GCHD has a monitoring program to assist county residents who test positive for COVID-19 with any questions or concerns. Requests can be sent to [email protected] or be answered by phone at 409-978-4043, including requests for letters of discharge from home isolation.
All Galveston County adults can now sign up for the county's COVID-19 vaccine waitlist, according to a March 5 news release from the city of La Marque. Priority will be given to those with pre-existing conditions. Those interested can sign up through UTMB Health or call 877-389-2318.
