Texas Medical Center coronavirus update: January continues to bring increasingly higher COVID-19 case numbers to Houston

The first 10 days of January have brought some of the highest single-day COVID-19 case numbers on record to the Houston area, according to data from the Texas Medical Center.

A total of 13,555 people per day tested positive in the Greater Houston area on Jan. 9, according to a Texas Medical Center Jan. 10 press release, representing a jump in cases from the previous week’s average of 9,183 new cases per day.

The highest single-day total of new cases in Harris County was recently set on Jan. 2, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services, when 12,503 cases were reported.

Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo announced Jan. 10 the county was raising its COVID-19 threat level to red, meaning unvaccinated residents are encouraged to minimize contact with others and limit travel to essential trips. Vaccinated residents are encouraged to wear a mask in public indoor settings or crowded outdoor settings.

Texas Medical Center hospital admittances have also risen from week to week as TMC hospitals are reporting an average of 497 COVID-19 patients being hospitalized per day over the past seven days, up from an average of 401 hospitalizations per day during the previous week. The system's intensive care units are at 94% capacity.

An average 2,712 vaccines were administered per day at Texas Medical Center institutions over the past week. Over 64% of Harris County residents have been fully vaccinated as of Jan. 10.