In a two-week period, Nov. 9-23, the total number of COVID-19 patients hospitalized at Texas Medical Center facilities increased by more than 50%, bringing the hospitals’ coronavirus patient total to 875 heading into Thanksgiving, according to data compiled by the center.

These numbers represent the total coronavirus patients housed in TMC hospitals located in a nine-county area, represented by Austin, Brazoria, Chambers, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Liberty, Montgomery and Waller counties. This includes both patients in and out of intensive care. When the outbreak was at its worst in July, about three times as many COVID-19 patients were receiving care at TMC hospitals.

These numbers come as cumulative cases hit over 250,000 on Nov. 23 within that same nine-county area, according to data from the Texas Department of State Health Services.

In TMC hospitals, an average of 5.9% of the 3,543 patients who were tested from Nov. 16-22 tested positive for COVID-19. This continues an upward trend that began the week of Oct. 5-11, when the average positivity rate was 3.6%.

There were 1,219 patients in TMC hospitals in intensive care units Nov. 23, the medical center reported. Of those, 248 are COVID-19 positive, while the rest are non-COVID-19 patients.

At 92% capacity, this is below the 1,330-bed threshold that necessitates additional staffing and beds as outlined in the medical center’s Phase 2 plan.