Houston coronavirus updates: What you need to know for July 22

Photo: Mark Mulligan, Houston Chronicle / Staff Photographer

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Registered nurse Tanya Metz prepares to enter a COVID-19 positive patient’s room in the emergency room, Monday, July 20, 2020, at El Campo Memorial Hospital in El Campo, TX. The patient was put into an isolated room and ended up being admitted to the hospital. The small, rural hospital has created an isolated hallway for COVID patients as well as accepting COVID patients in their four ICU beds.

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Registered nurse Tanya Metz prepares to enter a COVID-19 positive patient’s room in the emergency room, Monday, July 20, 2020, at El Campo Memorial Hospital in El Campo, TX. The patient was put into an isolated

… more Photo: Mark Mulligan, Houston Chronicle / Staff Photographer

Houston coronavirus updates: What you need to know for July 22

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Chron.com is following the latest headlines on the COVID-19 pandemic and its effects on the Houston area.

Texas set a record for COVID-19 hospitalizations on Tuesday, the same day a San Antonio-area county reported more than 200 infants have contracted the novel coronavirus since the pandemic broke out.

The San Antonio Express-News reported 211 infants have tested positive for COVID-19 in Bexar County. City officials said the huge number of babies with the virus “is something that we’re keeping a close eye on and is something that we’re very worried about.” None of the infants have died from the virus.

Texas added 10,201 new cases on Tuesday and is now at 351,940 cases total, marking the eighth-highest day for new cases, according to a Houston Chronicle analysis. The state reported 157 new deaths yesterday – the second-highest day for new deaths since the pandemic began – and is now at 4,212 deaths total.

As of Tuesday evening, there were 10,848 patients hospitalized for COVID-19 in state hospitals, the highest number reported since the pandemic started.

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One-third of the state’s total deaths have been reported in just the last two weeks. During that time period, more than 135,700 new cases were reported, marking an increase of 63 percent. The state’s rolling average for new cases is now at 10,122.1 and the positive test rate is at 15.05 percent.

The Houston region saw a 2.42 percent increase in new cases and is now at 83,946 cases total. Sixteen new deaths were reported in the region yesterday, all in Harris County. Harris County saw a 2.53 percent increase in new cases and is now at 58,540 cases total.

NOTE: The numbers included in this report represent a one-day change in data from Monday, July 20 through Tuesday, July 21. It is still unclear how many of the state’s new cases can be attributed to jail inmates from the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. The Houston Chronicle’s analysis of COVID-19 case data now includes probable and pending cases. This change is based on interviews with multiple public health officials and epidemiologists, as well as in line with CDC guidelines on reporting.

rebecca.hennes@chron.com