The net total of COVID-19 patients in Harris County hospital intensive care units increased by more than 100 between July 3 and July 6, according to the data being tracked by the Southeast Texas Regional Advisory Council, going from 589 to 690.

With 644 of those cases confirmed and 46 suspected, COVID-19 patients now make up an estimated 43.4% of ICU patients, of which there are an estimated 1,622. That figure is up from 38.1% on July 3 and 25.5% on June 22.

Overall base ICU capacity among Texas Medical Center hospitals has been hovering between 98%-100%, with 373 ICU beds in surge capacity available as a part of the next phase of taking in new patients. TMC officials project those beds could be occupied by mid-July based on current trends, which would cause the system to move into the third phase, activating another 504 temporary beds.

Harris County and city of Houston officials reported another 1,179 new cases of COVID-19 July 6, along with one death. In a press conference, Dr. David Persse, the health authority for the Houston Health Department, warned against underestimating the danger posed by the virus based on the death rate.

Today in #HarrisCounty, 500 people are in ICU for #COVID19. These people are extremely sick and having terrible times. Don’t underestimate that because people are not dying at a high rate that this viris is not dangerous. -Dr. David Persse#StopTheSpread #MaskUpHou pic.twitter.com/HRMRQcdzhe

— Houston Health Dept (@HoustonHealth) July 6, 2020

A total of 37,776 cases have now been confirmed in Harris County, including 25,174 that are considered active, 12,201 who are confirmed to have recovered and 401 who have died.