While there was a slight increase in reported cases during the last week of October compared to the week prior, the total was still less than in late October 2020, according to public health data reported by the Galveston County Health District. A total of 72 new cases have been reported so far the week of Oct. 31.
Case fatality remains at 1%, and 1,330 cases are active, a decrease from the 2,133 active as of Oct. 17. The percentage of positive tests was at or below 10% each week throughout October, per the latest GCHD data.
A total of 13 more coronavirus deaths have been reported by the GCHD since Oct. 17, down from the 20 reported Oct. 1-15. Of those deaths, three people were fully vaccinated, and none were partially vaccinated, per the GCHD.
As of Oct. 29, there had been 2,061 breakthrough cases in Galveston County, per the GCHD’s Nov. 3 update. COVID-19 cases occurring in people who are fully vaccinated are considered breakthrough cases, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
This equates to an approximate 1% breakthrough rate; nearly 186,500 county residents are fully vaccinated, per the GCHD, a jump from the about 184,500 vaccinated in mid-October. The county is offering vaccines at indoor and drive-thru clinics as well as booster shots for those who qualify.
There are 25 county residents hospitalized with COVID-19 as of Nov. 3, down about 69% from 81 in mid-October. People under the age of 31 represent less than 15% of current total hospitalizations, per the GCHD.
Click here to view the coronavirus dashboard on the health district’s website.
Greater Houston-area COVID-19 updates
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According to Oct. 25 Texas Medical Center data, the number of new hospitalizations TMC institutions were seeing each day on average from Oct. 18-24 was 89 patients, down almost 18% from the 108 patients being admitted just a week ago. This number is also nearly 40% down from the 145 patients seen two weeks ago. At their peak, new coronavirus hospitalizations at Texas Medical Center reached 390 during the week of Aug. 16-22. Click here to read more TMC data breakdowns.
The Food and Drug Administration on Oct. 29 authorized the emergency use of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine to include those in the 5-11 age group, the FDA announced in a news release. The Pfizer vaccine for those in the 5-11 age group will require two doses three weeks apart but at a lower dose, 10 micrograms, than that used for those 12 and older, 30 micrograms, the release said. GCHD on Nov. 4 will begin offering COVID-19 vaccines for children ages 5-11, per a Nov. 3 update. Click here to read more about the FDA decision.
Harris County lowered its COVID-19 threat level from Level 1: Red to Level 2: Orange, the system’s second-highest threat level, Judge Lina Hidalgo announced Nov. 3. The move comes as a variety of indicators have demonstrated a decrease in cases, hospitalizations and positivity rates for COVID-19, per the announcement. Read more here.
Hunter Marrow and Andy Yanez contributed to this report.
