COVID is surging in Texas. These 3 maps show which counties are hardest hit.
Cases of COVID-19 are surging across Texas and the United States. The Texas Department of State Health Services reported more than 10,000 new cases on July 28, a number the state hasn't seen since early February.
In Abilene-Taylor County, hospitalizations continue to increase and more than 415 deaths in the county have been contributed to COVID.
Upwards of 95% of those who are being hospitalized are unvaccinated, officials in Bexar, Travis and other counties say. Health officials are pleading with the public to get the vaccine.
“Nearly every COVID patient admission is completely preventable,” said Dr. Bryan Alsip, executive vice president and chief medical officer at University Health System in San Antonio. “Staff witness this every day and it’s very, very frustrating.”
More:COVID-19 Monday update: Abilene area hospitalizations continue to increase
These maps show how Texas and individual counties are being impacted by the virus:
CDC color-coded map shows hotspots by county
The CDC measures transmission rates by two metrics. The first uses nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) to identify positive COVID-19 cases. These tests are considered the “gold standard” for the detection of the virus.
More:COVID-19 Friday update: Vaccine Q&A, clinic slated at Abilene Paramount Theatre
The second measures the number of new cases per 100,000 people. If the metrics suggest different levels of transmission, the CDC differs to the higher number.
The organization is also tracking how many new cases involve variants of COVID-19.
Texas COVID cases, deaths
This map shows total cases and deaths from COVID-19. Click here to see a graph showing how current case and death rates in individual counties compare to the national average.