Texas reports new record for COVID-19 hospitalizations

DALLAS – Texas reached a new record for COVID-19 hospitalizations on Sunday, as an increase in the disease caused by the new coronavirus continued to strain state medical resources following holiday travel and gatherings.

State health officials reported 12,563 COVID-19 patients in Texas hospitals, an increase of more than 240 on Saturday. It was the sixth time in seven days that the state reported record hospitalizations.

Intensive care units in several parts of the state were full or nearly full on Sunday, according to the Texas Department of Health Services.

The department reported 14,535 new cases confirmed by COVID-19 on Sunday, 1,510 more likely cases and 50 deaths. It is believed that the actual number of cases is much higher, because many people have not been tested, and some who get sick have no symptoms.

In the past seven days, nearly one in five coronavirus tests in Texas has returned positive, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

For most people, coronavirus causes mild to moderate symptoms that clear up in a few weeks. But for others, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, the virus can cause serious illness and can be fatal.