The Texas Department of State Health Services reported an additional 269 COVID-19 patients at hospitals across the state Tuesday, a six percent increase and the largest increase in a single day since July 21.
Texas had a total of 4,588 COVID-19 patients at hospitals across the state Tuesday, the highest total number since August 26.
In North Texas, hospitals had 1,341 patients Tuesday, up from 1,177 last Thursday.
Dallas County reported 472 additional COVID-19 cases and four deaths Tuesday. The seven day average of new cases for the week ending October 10, the most recent week available, was 482, an increase from 385 the week before.
"We know what to do to curb the spread of coronavirus: masking and avoiding crowds, six-foot distance and handwashing. We just need to do it," Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins wrote in a statement. "As we've seen before and are about to see again, absent a drastic change in behavior, the numbers go up very rapidly but go down slowly. We do not want to be at a place with a high COVID-19 infection rate when the temperatures turn cold and more people are forced inside so please do your part to flatten the curve."
Tarrant County reported 500 cases and six deaths. The county says 503 people are in the hospital with the virus.
Collin County reported 111 cases, one death and 165 in the hospital.
Denton County reported 144 cases, no deaths and 70 in the hospital.
According to the Department of State Health Services, COVID-19 patients account for 7.34% of total hospital capacity state-wide. In North Texas, COVID-19 patients occupied 9.28% of hospital capacity, up from 8.05% a week ago.
Hospitals in North Texas reported 2,139 available beds, 243 available ICU beds and 1,963 available ventilators Tuesday.
