The 12 deaths—the largest single day total in Harris County since the pandemic began—brings the total COVID-19 death count in the county to 423.
A total of 40,919 cases of COVID-19 have now been confirmed in Harris County, including 27,309 that are considered active and another 13,187 that are confirmed to have recovered. The testing positivity rate in the nine-county Greater Houston area was at 12%, according to data being tracked by the Texas Medical Center. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has previously said the positivity rate being above 10% is cause for alarm. The positivity rate in the Greater Houston area has now been above 10% since June 20, according to TMC.
COVID-19 hospitalizations rose by 113 on July 9, including an increase of 44 in general ward beds and an increase of 69 in intensive care unit beds.
Base ICU occupancy remains completely filled in the Texas Medical Center, and occupancy rates within the ICU surge capacity increased from 9.1% on July 8 to 17% on July 9, with 64 of 373 beds filled. Based on current trends, TMC officials project those 373 beds to be completely filled by July 21, at which point another 504 temporary ICU surge beds would be activated.
