TEXAS — It’s the latest troubling news to hammer home the fact that COVID-19 is again beginning to spiral out of control in Texas. For the first time since March of this year, there are more than 4,000 Texans being treated for the virus in hospitals.


What You Need To Know

  • As of Sunday, 4,320 Texans are hospitalized with COVID-19, state data indicates

  • Hospitalization rate is the highest it's been in Texas since March of this year 

  • The Texas Department of State Health Services is reporting between 2,000 and 3,000 new cases of COVID-19 in the state per day

  • The dramatic uptick in cases has generated concern as students prepare to return to the classroom in three weeks 

According to the Texas Department of State Health services, as of Sunday, the exact number is 4,320.

That leaves 647 available ICU beds in the state and 9,996 total available hospital beds.

Hospitals officials Spectrum News 1 spoke with recently say that in some cases just as they were celebrating the closure of their COVID-19 ICUs, there are plans to reopen them.

In addition to hospitalizations, DSHS on Sunday reported 2,036 confirmed new cases of COVID-19, 294 new probable cases and 18 new fatalities attributed to the virus.

The dramatic uptick is fueling concern as the new school year rapidly approaches. On Friday, state Democrats sent a letter to Gov. Greg Abbott urging him to reverse on policy on school districts requiring facial masks in schools and to allow for virtual leaning options for students at high risk of contracting COVID-19. Abbott has already signaled he has no intention of putting a mask mandate of any description in place.

The increase in cases is being attributed by medical professionals to the unchecked proliferation of the delta COVID-19 variant as well as the fact that a large portion of Texas residents remain unvaccinated.

DSHS report just over 60% of the state’s eligible population is vaccinated. As of Sunday, 14,587,953 Texans have received at least one dose of vaccine and 12,538,427 are fully vaccinated.