Texas reports a new record for COVID-19 hospital admissions

DALLAS – Texas hit a new record for COVID-19 hospital admissions on Sunday as an increase in the disease caused by the new coronavirus continued to strain the state’s medical resources after vacation trips and meetings.

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

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

The department reported 14,535 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Sunday, 1,510 more probable cases and 50 fatalities. The true number of cases is believed to be much higher because many people have not been tested and some who become ill show no symptoms.

According to data from Johns Hopkins University, almost one in five coronavirus tests in Texas has come back positive in the past seven days.

In most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms that resolve within weeks. But for others, especially older adults and those with pre-existing health conditions, the virus can cause serious illness and be fatal.