Montgomery County reaches 50% vaccination mark, sees active cases surpass 7,000 for first time since January

Montgomery County has vaccinated 50% of its population age 12 and older as of Aug. 16, according to a Montgomery County Public Health news update.

The county update also recorded over 7,000 active COVID-19 cases, the highest that number has been since Jan. 25.

As data from the county and the Southeast Texas Regional Advisory Council shows hospitalizations continuing to climb, county and state officials have taken several actions to ease the burden on hospitals and staff.

On Aug. 16, the Texas Department of State Health Services opened an antibody infusion center in Montgomery County, one of nine planned to open or already open across the state. The center will treat COVID-19 patients who are not suffering from severe symptoms to prevent their cases from requiring hospitalization.

Montgomery County Judge Mark Keough signed a disaster declaration emergency on Aug. 9 that will run until Sept. 8. Additionally, the Commissioners Court approved the use of $9 million on Aug. 10 to fund 130 nurses over eight weeks. The spending followed Gov. Greg Abbott’s authorization for out-of-state personnel to aid Texas hospitals on Aug. 9.

Several drive-thru vaccination sites will also be open to the public in each Montgomery County precinct until Aug. 25.