TMC is using polymerase chain reaction, or PCR, tests, one of the most common and accurate ways to test patients for infection by the SARS-CoV-2 viral strain.
In total, since the pandemic came to Houston, 1,920 COVID-19-related patients have been hospitalized through the TMC system of hospitals, a 15% week-over-week increase from April 23.
In addition, there have been 1,354 COVID-19 patients discharged, as of April 30, a 23% week over week increase compared to the just-over-1,000 discharged April 23.
Texas Medical Center has altered the criteria on the data used for the number of COVID-19 patients in ICU beds, meanwhile.
As of April 23, the TMC reported having 265 COVID-19 ICU patients. It has 158 as of April 30, though this number does not include people under investigation for COVID-19.
TMC member institutions include St. Luke’s, Harris Health System, Houston Methodist, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Memorial Hermann and Texas Children’s Hospital in the following counties, according to the report: Austin, Brazoria, Chambers, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Liberty, Montgomery, and Waller.
