A total of 726 COVID-19 patients were in Harris County intensive care units as of July 16, down slightly from the total one week ago, July 9, when ICUs held 777 COVID-19 patients, according to data being tracked by the Southeast Texas Regional Advisory Council.

Prior to this past week, the net total of ICUs patients in county hospitals had been increasing by more than 100 people each week on average dating back to mid-June. Patient totals were at 254 on June 11, 384 on June 18, 479 in June 25 and were at 596 by July 2, according to SETRAC data.

Meanwhile, the number of COVID-19 patients in the county's general wards fell to 1,878 on July 16 after spending more than a week above 1,900, according to SETRAC.

Another 1,599 new cases of COVID-19 were confirmed in Harris County on July 16, along with 17 deaths, including a Hispanic male in his 20s with underlying health conditions.

A total of 51,969 cases have now been confirmed in the county, 34,242 of which are considered active. Another 17,218 are confirmed to have recovered, and 508 have died.

The testing positivity rate in the nine-county Greater Houston area continued its upward trend, according to the most recent data being tracked by the Texas Medical Center. About 16% of tests were coming back positive as of July 14, up from 11% on July 11. The Houston Metropolitan Statistical Area has now seen positive average growth in the daily case trend for five days and positive average growth testing positivity for three days, according to TMC.