Montgomery County's active COVID-19 case count grew by 105 July 17, according to a daily update from the county public health department and emergency management office.

There are 2,193 active cases countywide, the highest number yet representing around 46% of all cases recorded in the county throughout this year. Of the active cases, 1,594 county residents are in self-isolation, 16 fewer than July 16, while 60 residents are hospitalized, an increase of two since Thursday. Due to the county's July 15 shift to reporting cases once confirmed by laboratories rather than once contact investigations commence, 539 active cases had not been assigned a status as of July 17.


A total of 2,377 county residents—just over half of the cumulative 4,721 cases confirmed in the county—have now clinically recovered from the disease, an increase of 115 since July 16. The county's cumulative case count rose by 220 from July 16-17, and the county's seven-day new case average once again reached a new high of nearly 245, although that figure's growth is partially due to a July 15 spike resulting from the county's release of backlogged information on hundreds of existing cases. At least 100 new cases have now been logged for six straight days and 11 of the past 13 days since June 30, the first day a triple-digit increase was reported in the county.

Overall hospitalizations in Montgomery County, including patients from other counties, decreased by three July 17 to 230. Of those, 169 are in general or isolation beds and 61 are in an ICU, according to data shared by the county from the Southeast Texas Regional Advisory Council.