COVID-19 HOSPITALIZATION RATE IN BRAZOS VALLEY AMONG HIGHEST IN STATE
The hospital region covering the Brazos Valley currently has one of the highest COVID-19 hospitalization rates in the state.
According to data from the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS), Trauma Service Area N—which is made up of Brazos, Burleson, Grimes, Leon, Madison, Robertson and Washington counties—had a hospitalization rate of 23.81 percent as of Sunday afternoon.
According to DSHS, a total of 140 lab-confirmed COVID-19 patients were hospitalized in the region on Sunday, and no intensive care unit beds were available.
State data shows that 74 of the 588 staffed hospital beds in the region were available Sunday. Those numbers include all patients who are hospitalized, not just patients with COVID-19.
As of Sunday, the only regions in the state with higher COVID-19 hospitalization rates were Trauma Service Area T—the Laredo area—with a rate of 38.78 percent, Area M—the region around Waco—with a rate of 26.07 percent, and Area E—the area surrounding Dallas-Fort Worth—with a rate of 23.92 percent.
Region N remains under stricter regulations as a result of its high hospitalization rate. Per orders from Governor Greg Abbott, if a hospital region has a rate of over 15 percent for seven consecutive days, business capacity must be reduced to 50 percent from 75 percent. In addition, establishments that receive at least 51 percent of their revenue from alcohol sales must close, and elective medical procedures must be restricted. The region has been above the 15 percent threshold since December 22nd.
On Sunday, DSHS reported a new record high in COVID-19 hospitalizations across the state, the sixth time in seven days that the state reported record-breaking hospitalizations. According to DSHS, 12,563 COVID-19 patients were in Texas hospitals Sunday, an increase of over 240 from Saturday.