ZIP code-level data shows 491 coronavirus cases in Sugar Land, Missouri City communities

Since May 1, coronavirus cases in Fort Bend County have increased by 166, according to data released by the county May 5.

These new cases come as Texas’ economy reopens and Gov. Greg Abbott announces additional businesses can reopen as soon as May 8.

This new data brings the total case count in Fort Bend County to 1,245 cases, with 1,029 active cases, 186 reported recoveries and 30 deaths from the virus. Of the 1,029 active cases, 51 people are currently hospitalized, while the remaining 978 are at home.

Across the five ZIP codes that make up the bulk of the Sugar Land and Missouri City communities, there are 491 confirmed cases of the coronavirus.

Missouri City ZIP code 77459 has seen 35 new cases since May 1 and is reporting a total of 200 confirmed cases, more than any other single ZIP code in Fort Bend County.

Three of the Sugar Land and Missouri City ZIP codes have between 77-88 cases, with the exception of ZIP code 77478, which has 43 confirmed cases.

With 214 cases, the Fort Bend County portion of Missouri City continues to have the most cases of any jurisdiction within the county. Sugar Land has 129 cases of the virus, and unincorporated Fort Bend County has 674.

Because ZIP code boundaries and city boundaries do not match up, it is necessary to look at both jurisdiction- and ZIP code-level data when assessing where cases are located within the county.