The number of daily new COVID-19 cases and the testing positivity rate are both on the rise in Harris County, but the number of patients with COVID-19 in county hospitals has fallen over that same time, according to data from local health care entities.
The seven-day average for daily new cases hit 579 on April 28, which is up from 468 one week ago on April 21 and the highest the seven-day average has been since April 6, when it hit 583, according to data from the Harris County Public Health Department.
Meanwhile, the 14-day average for testing positivity took an upward swing in late April after stalling for nearly a month. The positivity rate, which tracks what percentage of people who are tested for COVID-19 test positive, hovered in the 8% range between March 11 and April 12 before beginning to rise again. As of the most recent data from April 20, the 14-day average was at 10.6%, according to public health data.
County officials have set a target of under 5% as a benchmark to demonstrate community control of the virus.
