State officials warn that COVID hospitalizations in Texas are rising more steeply than ever before

AUSTIN — State health officials are urging Texans to get vaccinated against COVID-19 amid an “alarming” surge of the virus driven by the highly contagious delta variant.

Hospitalizations are rising at the fastest rate since the pandemic began, state epidemiologist Dr. Jennifer Shuford said Wednesday. They’re spiking among all age groups, including children. Most patients are not vaccinated.

“It is critical that people continue to get vaccinated because that is really the way that we are going to turn the tide on this when there’s so much disease spreading across Texas,” said Chris Van Deusen, a spokesman for the Texas Department of State Health Services, during a press briefing Wednesday.

Statewide new cases are up 92% over last week, officials said. Hospitalizations are at their highest level since early February, when the state’s vaccine rollout was still in its infancy.

As Texas faces what could be its most serious surge yet, Gov. Greg Abbott on Wednesday reiterated that he won’t allow mask mandates or business restrictions.

“Everyone can voluntarily implement the mandates that are safest for them, for their families and for their businesses,” Abbott said at the Asian American Hotel Owners Association conference in Dallas — the largest corporate gathering in the city since the pandemic began.

“The surest way to end the pandemic is for everyone who wants one to make sure they get the vaccine,” he said.

Last week, the Republican governor issued an executive order barring local governments from mandating masks or vaccinations. Some officials are already defying his wishes, however, citing the need to slow the skyrocketing spread of COVID-19.

Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner told city employees Monday they must resume wearing masks at work when they can’t keep socially distant, according to the Houston Chronicle. The city’s health director said this week the amount of virus in the wastewater system is at a level never before seen.

Dallas County increased its COVID-19 threat level to red, in response to the “frightening trajectory” of cases. At a Tuesday meeting, County Judge Clay Jenkins required members of the commissioners court to wear face coverings and had one removed for refusing.

According to the latest federal guidance, even vaccinated Texans should wear masks indoors in almost every county because the spread of COVID-19 is so high.

During a news conference Wednesday inside City Hall, Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson said he hoped Abbott’s recent orders were made “in accordance with public health and not politics.”

Johnson said he didn’t know what doctors were advising Abbott but hoped the governor was heeding their advice. If asked, Johnson said he’d tell Abbott to urge residents to be more proactive in protecting themselves and others from the virus.

“I’d say: ‘Tell everyone they need to get vaccinated, tell everyone they need to wear a mask. Period,’” said Johnson, who is fully vaccinated and held a mask in his hand as he spoke in the City Hall front lobby.

Across North Texas on Wednesday 1,922 people were hospitalized with COVID-19, a level approaching last summer, said Steve Love, head of the Dallas-Fort Worth Hospital Council.

“The majority would be preventable had they gotten vaccinated,” he said. “These people are much younger and they tend to be a little more sicker.”

Forty-five are pediatric patients, roughly three times higher than the number a month ago.

The vaccine is currently available only to people age 12 and older. As of Wednesday, 44% of the state’s entire population had been fully vaccinated against the virus. Some 1.3 million in Texas are late in getting their second vaccine dose, meaning they aren’t fully protected against COVID-19.

Nearly all of the people dying from COVID-19 now are unvaccinated. While there are cases of vaccinated people becoming infected, they are far less likely to have severe illness or be hospitalized, Shuford said.

“This alarming rise in cases and hospitalizations makes it more important for every person to get fully vaccinated,” she said.

Dallas County

Dallas County reported five more COVID-19 deaths and 893 new coronavirus cases Wednesday.

Of the new cases, 751 were confirmed and 142 were probable. The numbers bring the county’s overall case total to 320,732, including 274,900 confirmed and 45,832 probable. The death toll is 4,216.

The average number of new daily cases in the county for the last two weeks is 668 — more than double the previous 14-day period average of 288.

According to the state, 1,365,638 people in Dallas County have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, while 1,148,643 — 52.7% of the county’s population 12 and older — are fully vaccinated.

Tarrant County

Tarrant County reported nine deaths and 876 cases Wednesday.

Of the new cases, 705 were confirmed and 171 were probable. The numbers bring the county’s case total to 276,370, including 230,291 confirmed and 46,079 probable. The death toll is 3,664.

The county reported that 676 people were hospitalized with the virus as of Wednesday.

According to the state, 1,019,666 people in Tarrant County have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, while 884,697 — 50.9% of the county’s population 12 and older — are fully vaccinated.

Texas

Across the state, 19,336 more cases were reported Wednesday, including 19,003 new cases and 333 older ones recently reported by labs.

The state also reported 60 COVID-19 deaths, raising its toll to 52,221.

Of the new cases, 15,558 were confirmed and 3,445 were probable. Of the older cases, 246 were confirmed and 87 were probable.

The state’s case total is now 3,166,376, including 2,686,339 confirmed and 480,037 probable.

According to the state, 7,685 people were hospitalized with the virus as of Wednesday, including 1,907 in North Texas. Both numbers are the highest since late February.

According to the state, 15,061,116 people in Texas have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, while 12,772,842 — 53.1% of the state’s population 12 and older — are fully vaccinated.