Texas reports new record high for COVID-19 hospitalizations

DALLAS Texas reached a new record for COVID-19 hospitalizations on Sunday as a surge in the disease caused by the new coronavirus continued to strain state medical resources after holiday trips and gatherings.

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

Intensive care units in several parts of the state were full or nearly full on Sunday, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services.

The department reported 14,535 newly confirmed cases of COVID-19 Sunday, another 1,510 probable cases and 50 deaths. It is believed that the actual number of cases is much higher because many people have not been tested yet and some who get sick do not show symptoms.

According to Johns Hopkins University data, nearly one in five coronavirus tests in Texas has returned positive in the past seven days.

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