Harris County confirms largest single-day COVID-19 death toll Aug. 6; hospitalizations continue slow downward trend

A total of 1,005 new cases of COVID-19 were confirmed in Harris County on Aug. 6 along with 36 deaths caused by the virus, the largest single-day total in the county since the pandemic began. Twenty-three deaths were confirmed in the city of Houston while 13 deaths were confirmed in Harris County outside of the city.

The increase in deaths represents deaths that were officially confirmed on Aug. 6 to have been caused by COVID-19, not necessarily people who died on Aug. 6. Some of the deaths confirmed Aug. 6 were individuals who died as far back as late June, according to reports from the city of Houston.

Hispanic and Latino individuals continue to be overrepresented in COVID-19 deaths in Harris County, making up 25 of the 36 deaths confirmed Aug. 5 and 75 of the 135 deaths confirmed over the past week.

The total number of cases now stands at 81,919, with 34,203 cases considered active, 46,873 recovered and 841 cases that have died.

Although deaths are on the rise, the 1,005 new cases was the lowest single-day total in the county since July 27. The seven-day trend of testing positivity in Texas Medical Center Hospitals fell to 12%, down from 14% earlier this week and 21% in mid-July.

The number of COVID-19 patients also fell slightly between Aug. 5 and Aug. 6. Patients rose in general ward beds from 1,162 to 1,181 but fell in intensive care unit beds from 574 to 548. The ICU occupancy has dropped for three straight days and is down from 661 one week ago on July 30.

Base capacity in Texas Medical Center ICUs was still fully occupied as of Aug. 6, with 9% of surge capacity beds occupied.