Texas reports new record of hospitalizations for COVID-19

DALLAS – Texas broke a new record for hospitalizations for COVID-19 on Sunday, while an increase in illness caused by the new coronavirus continued to overwhelm the state’s medical resources after trips and vacation meetings.

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

Intensive care units in various 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 confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Sunday, 1,510 more likely cases and 50 deaths. The actual number of cases is believed to be much higher because many people have not been tested and some who get sick have no symptoms.

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

For most people, coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms that disappear within weeks. But for others, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, the virus can cause serious illness and be fatal.