A total of 4,974 active COVID-19 cases were reported in Montgomery County on Dec. 11, the 12th consecutive day the county has set a new high in daily active cases, according to information from the county public health and hospital districts. The Dec. 10 case total represents a 12.25% increase over the 4,431 active cases recorded on Nov. 7. According to information from the Southeast Texas Regional Advisory Council, the numbers of COVID-19 patients in Montgomery County hospitals and ICUs have also risen the week of Dec. 7. As of Dec. 11, 1,013 hospital patients and 159 ICU patients—regardless of residence—were recorded in Montgomery County facilities due to confirmed or suspected COVID-19 cases. Hospital and ICU bed use in the county peaked this year in July, according to SETRAC data. Montgomery County also surpassed 20,000 cumulative COVID-19 cases this week, with a total of 20,619 cases identified as of Dec. 11—a 5.3% increase in the past week since Dec. 7. Of those, a total of 12,004 cases have recovered. Seven new deaths related to COVID-19 were reported Dec. 8-11. A total of 183 resident deaths related to the disease have been recorded in the county this year.