The Texas Department of State Health Services is alerting the public and healthcare professionals about suspected cases of fungal meningitis among Texas residents who got surgery in Matamoros, Mexico.

The Texas Department of State Health Services is notifying the public of a missing radiographic camera, an industrial device that contains radioactive material. The material is sealed within multiple layers of protection, and the risk of exposure is very low.

Texans who purchased oysters since Nov. 17 should not eat them or consider throwing out after the Texas Department of State Health Services announced a recall of all oysters harvested in one area of Galveston Bay.

Dr. John Hellerstedt, who has led the Texas Department of State Health Services since 2016, will retire at the end of the month. Dr. Jennifer Shuford, the chief state epidemiologist, has been named his interim replacement.

An adult with various severe illnesses, who was also presumptive positive for monkeypox, died Sunday, according to Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo and Harris County Public Health

The Texas Department of State Health Services will update the number of monkeypox cases in the state. Last week’s count had 556 confirmed cases statewide with 206 in the Public Health Region 6/5, which includes Harris County.

The City of Houston Health Department and Harris County Public Health held a joint press conference Friday.

The Texas Department of State Health Services announced Monday that it has received a shipment of 14,780 doses of the JYNNEOS monkeypox vaccine.

Harris Health’s Lyndon B. Johnson Hospital has been re-designated as a Maternal Level III facility by the Texas Department of State Health Services on Monday.

A man, in his 70s, has died from the West Nile virus in Montgomery County, according to Texas Department of State Health Services.

The Texas Department of State Health Services and local health departments have found multiple cases of monkeypox in Texas residents who did not travel outside the state, according to a release.

Officials in the state’s major metropolitan areas are increasingly scrambling to find health care workers to deal with a wave of patients with COVID-19.

Five of the department’s regional infusion centers have run out of sotrovimab, the only antibody treatment known to be effective against the new variant.

The Texas Department of State Health Services, which tracks the number of coronavirus vaccinations, cases, hospitalizations and deaths across the state, won’t be updating its daily dashboard Friday through Sunday both this week and next over the holidays.

One of the world’s largest COVID-19 antibody studies, which was produced by Texas CARES and public health experts at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston and the Texas Department of State Health Services is estimating that over 75% of Texans have COVID-19 antibodies.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced Thursday that the Texas Department of State Health Services will deploy an additional 2,500 medical personnel to help assist hospitals and nursing homes in combat the rise in COVID-19 cases.

The Texas Department of State Health Services said there have been “343 clinically severe vaccine breakthrough cases reported in Texas,” dating back to Feb. 8, 2020, the date the state of Texas started tracking them.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced Thursday that the Texas Department of State Health Services will deploy additional medical personnel to help hospitals battle the rise in COVID-19 cases.

The Texas Department of State Health Services discussed the coronavirus and the latest data.

As COVID-19 cases and concerns about the Delta variant rise, so do questions about breakthrough cases or cases where people test positive after being fully vaccinated.

The Texas Department of State Health Services has announced that the first case of West Nile has been reported in the state.

COVID-19 cases have been increasing in Texas and nationally — mostly among unvaccinated people — as the highly contagious delta variant has become dominant. Here's what that means for Texans, both vaccinated and unvaccinated.

A single case of monkeypox has been reported in Dallas County, Texas health officials said Friday.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced Thursday that it has awarded the Texas Department of State Health Services and several Texas health jurisdictions $193,304,367 to address COVID-19-related health disparities.

State health officials say more than 1.7 million COVID-19 vaccine doses are headed Texas' way for next week.

The Texas Department of State Health Services will provide an update on COVID-19 vaccine allocation and distribution.

State health officials reported above-average new COVID-19 case and death totals.

Starting Monday, all Texans ages 16 and older — about 22 million people — are eligible to receive COVID-19 vaccine doses, the Texas Department of State Health Services announced. But as vaccine eligibility expands, actually getting the vaccine may be even more difficult. State health officials said Texas has no strictly enforced residency requirement to be vaccinated, but doses allotted to Texas are intended for those living, working or spending substantial amounts of time in Texas. AdTexas has administered more than 10 million vaccine doses, and the state will receive more than 1 million first doses this week, according to DSHS. For Texans who do not have access to transportation or the ability to navigate technology, signing up for a vaccine appointment is nearly impossible.

(AP Photo/David J. Phillip)Here are things to know for Wednesday, March 24:1. “We certainly don’t want to lose that momentum that we’ve had,” said state health department spokesman Chris Van Deusen. Police said officers responded accordingly but changed their posture once they realized Evans was asleep in her room when they entered. I don’t feel safe for any child that goes to that gym,” said a parent who didn’t want to be identified. In the declaration, Watson’s manager claims the woman wanted $30,000 in exchange for her “indefinite silence.”Read more.

HOUSTON – The Texas Department of State Health Services announced Tuesday that everyone 16 and up will be eligible to sign up to receive a COVID-19 vaccine in Texas beginning Monday, March 29. The Texas Department of State Health Services said it expects vaccine supplies to increase in April to more than a million doses per week, well above the demand under current eligibility criteria. “We certainly don’t want to lose that momentum that we’ve had,” said state health department spokesman Chris Van Deusen. Also next week, DSHS said it will launch a website to allow people to register for a shot through some public health providers in more rural communities. Texans can continue to find vaccine providers throughout Greater Houston and sign up on waitlists through the DSHS Vaccine Information page at dshs.texas.gov/covidvaccine.

HOUSTON – The Texas Department of State Health Services shared an update on COVID-19 vaccine allocation and distribution. Imelda Garcia, associate commissioner for Laboratory and Infectious Disease Services and chair of the Expert Vaccine Allocation Panel, gave remarks at the event, focusing on the new group 1C to begin receiving the vaccine on Monday in Texas. RELATED: Texas expands vaccine eligibility to anyone 50 and older starting next weekGarcia said the group designation “does the most” to protect Texans from COVID-19 because the next age group, combined with the 1A and 1B group comprise 93 percent of COVID-19 deaths in Texas. She added that along with the 1A and 1B groups, the 1C group bears a significant risk of severe disease, hospitalization and death, adding that the data is “very clear” on this point. Ad“Opening up vaccination to this group next will let us continue to reduce the number of deaths we’re seeing across the state and help relieve the strain on our hospitals and the rest of the health care system,” Garcia said.

The Texas Department of State Health Services will provide update on the state’s COVID-19 vaccine allocation and distribution efforts during a media briefing Thursday. KPRC 2 will stream the briefing live.

The Food and Drug Administration approved Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine on Saturday for use in the U.S., the third vaccine to be approved since the pandemic began. The company has said it plans to ship 20 million shots in the U.S. by the end of March and an additional 80 million doses before the end of June. Texas received about 1.5 million vaccine doses by Pfizer and Moderna this week, including doses that had been undelivered earlier in the month because of the winter storm. Unlike those vaccines, Johnson & Johnson's formulation is the first to only require one dose, and it can be stored at regular refrigeration temperatures. Five million vaccine doses have been administered overall in Texas as of Feb. 25.

HOUSTON – A panel of experts from the Texas Department of State Health Services gave the public an update on COVID-19 vaccine allocation and distribution on Thursday. The DSHS health experts said Johnson & Johnson applied for an emergency use authorization for its single-shot vaccine. Health experts said the vaccine is 85% protective against the most serious symptoms, has less severe side effects, and no hospitalizations where it was tested. They said they have not made a decision on who is next for the next group vaccine and depends on the vaccine supply Texas receives. Officials said every provider who receives the first shipment will be guaranteed a second shipment, even if it is not on time.

HOUSTON – The Texas Department of State Health Services provided an update on COVID-19 vaccine allocation and distribution Thursday. Here are the highlights:2.75 million doses have been administered in Texas so far. 1 million doses nationwide - getting a portion of that to go to pharmacies. Recommending people get their second dose where they got their first one. It’s OK if you can’t get the second dose within the recommended time frame, just get it as soon as you can.

Vaccinations in the U.S. began last week with healthcare workers, with at least 556,000 doses reportedly administered. (Photo by Go Nakamura/Getty Images)The Greater Houston-area is set to receive an influx of over 62,000 COVID-19 vaccines this week, driven by an increase in the number of vaccines provided to the state by the federal government and large allocations to Houston-area providers, state officials announced Friday. The Harris County’s public health department and the City of Houston’s public health department are slated to receive 9,000 vaccinations each. In addition to the first doses coming, the state ordered 188,225 doses intended as the second dose for people first vaccinated a few weeks ago. “Currently, there is not enough vaccine to supply every provider with vaccine every week.”AdAs of Friday, Texas providers have administered nearly 2.2 million doses of the vaccine.

HOUSTON – The Texas Department of State Health Services provided a media briefing on COVID-19 vaccine allocation and distribution Thursday. Imelda Garcia, associate commissioner for Laboratory and Infectious Disease Services and chair of the Expert Vaccine Allocation Panel and Saroj Rai, PhD science adviser, spoke at the event. Watch the full live stream of the event in the video above as soon as it is processed.

With so much focus on the coronavirus, it’s easy to forget that we’re in the middle of flu season. “I generally see two or three influenza patients a week during flu season,” said Dr. Linda Yancey, an infectious disease specialist. “This flu season, I have seen exactly two influenza patients for the entire season.”The latest surveillance report from the Texas Department of State Health Services said flu activity is low across the state. “Countries that have not stepped back on their testing are seeing historically low numbers.”Yancey credits the use of masks for helping to keep flu cases low. Yancey warned that flu season isn’t over and peaks can happen later in the season.

HOUSTON – COVID-19 vaccines have been rolled out across the Houston area but the process has not been perfect. McDeavitt said the ups and downs can cause confusion and frustration for patients, especially when appointments are canceled because providers run out of vaccine. “I don’t think there’s anybody to blame, as much as we would like to find somebody to blame,” he said. McDeavitt believes the issue will continue until more vaccines are approved and produced, possibly in April. “This will continue to be frustrating for the next several weeks, I think before we have a solution,” he said.

Health officials in Laredo — one of three Texas regions whose intensive care unit beds are full — are pleading with residents to stay home and prevent coronavirus spread as the city’s hospitals overflow with patients. “Hospitals are overwhelmed and at capacity with the surge in COVID-19 cases. The Laredo health department reported nearly 4,900 coronavirus cases last week, and the area set a record for daily infections reported with more than 2,000 cases on Wednesday. COVID-19 patients take up nearly 49% of the Laredo region’s hospital capacity, according to data from the Texas Department of State Health Services. In the summer, some Texas hospitals ran out of drugs, beds and ventilators as they faced a statewide increase in coronavirus cases.

A droplet falls from a syringe after a health care worker was injected with the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine at Women & Infants Hospital in Providence, R.I., Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2020. (AP Photo/David Goldman)The Texas Department of State Health Services has designated dozens of coronavirus vaccine hubs across the state. Here’s a list of the designated vaccine hubs in the Greater Houston area. Please note that just because a location has been designated a hub does not mean that the vaccine is being administered at that location. Officials in each county are responsible for developing plans to administer the vaccine.

She said the clinic has not received the COVID-19 vaccine after being approved by the Department of State Health Services several weeks ago. Farizani said a lot of her patients work at grocery stores, restaurants, they drive school buses and work in cafeterias. The clinic has been working hard since the start of the pandemic and now they’re faced with a difficult roadblock. She said she can’t understand why the Department of State Health Services has not provided them with the vaccine after she says they were approved many weeks ago. Farizani said the community needs the vaccine to protect themselves and their families from the deadly virus.

HOUSTON – The Texas Department of State Health Services surveyed vaccine providers about their capacity to operate large community vaccination sites this week and have provided a list of three vaccine hubs in the Houston area. Large and small sites around Texas will receive a total of about 200,000 doses of vaccine this week. Providers in 104 counties will receive vaccine shipments this week, bringing the cumulative number of counties to 222. The vaccine has been administered to residents of all 254 Texas counties, DSHS said. Texas providers will also receive about 500,000 doses intended as the second dose for people first vaccinated a few weeks ago, health officials said.

Texas health officials on Sunday released a list of coronavirus “vaccination hubs” that will receive the state’s next shipment of vaccines. The 28 hubs will get 158,825 doses of the vaccine this week, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services. The number of doses that each provider is getting is based on its own estimate of how many people it could vaccinate in a week, DSHS said. The hubs are meant to streamline large-scale vaccination as Texas continues to prioritize vaccinating people who are health care workers, 65 and older with underlying medical conditions. A complete list of Tribune donors and sponsors can be viewed here.

TEXAS CITY, Texas – On Thursday, the Galveston County Health District began vaccinating people who were 65 years and older. The Galveston County Health District said there are 21,611 positive cases, 5,251 are active and 193 people have died. The Texas Department of State Health Services said it’s working on vaccination hubs across the state. Large and small sites around Texas will receive a total of about 200,000 doses of vaccine next week. People can find more information on COVID-19 vaccine and its availability at dshs.texas.gov/coronavirus/immunize/vaccine.aspx.

HOUSTON – The Houston area officially crossed Tuesday the hospitalization threshold that triggers a rollback in reopenings for the area, and the state has sent letters to county judges informing them of the requirement. Greg Abbott’s reopening order that requires, among other things, bars to close and restaurants to reduce capacity to 50%. ‘Wake-up call’Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo said she expected Tuesday’s numbers to push the region over the threshold. Pamela Hillhouse, who owns Mel’s Place on Airline Drive, said she had to use more money to get a license and products to serve food. Stella Birchfield, the head bartender at Mel’s Place, said she chose to retire from her other work and spent years working at the bar, taking care of regular patrons.

HOUSTON – Data from the Texas Department of State Health Services showed Monday that the Houston area is approaching the threshold that requires the rollback of reopenings. DSHS data shows that coronavirus-related hospitalizations in Trauma Service Area Q, which includes Harris, Fort Bend and Montgomery counties, have been above 15% for six consecutive days. Greg Abbott’s reopening order kicks in and requires, among other things, bars to close and restaurants to reduce capacity to 50%. RELATED LINK: Map of Texas’ TSAsHarris County Judge Lina Hidalgo said she is aware of the rising hospitalizations. This would be the same rollbacks that were instituted in Galveston and Brazoria counties, which are in Trauma Service Area R, just before Christmas.

HOUSTON – The push to get the COVID-19 vaccine is moving into high gear now, so the next challenge is finding a provider, a hospital or medical clinic or even a pharmacy that will give you the vaccine. To help all of us, the Texas Department of State Health Services has set up an interactive map that makes it easy to find a provider in your neighborhood. To use it, you simply begin clicking on the map over the Houston area. The map will zoom closer and closer to the metro area with each click. AdThe website even tells you how many doses of the vaccine that particular provider has been given by the state.

GALVESTON, Texas – After a state-mandated tightening of coronavirus restrictions prompted businesses to close or reduce capacity in Brazoria and Galveston counties, leaders in both places are asking to be moved into the same trauma service area as Houston. Brazoria and Galveston counties are in Trauma Service Area R, while Harris County, where Houston is located, is in area Q.COVID-19 hospitalizations in area R have been at or above 15% for at least two weeks, while the rate has been inching higher to that mark in area Q. In their request, The judges cite their distance from the majority of counties in TSA R and their close proximity to TSA Q. “The spread of COVID-19 within TSA-Q impacts the residents and hospitals in Galveston County and Brazoria County significantly more than the spread of COVID-19 in TSA-R,” the judges wrote. There are two other Houston-area counties that are in area R -- Chambers and Liberty.

Answer: As of this writing, state health officials have restricted initial doses to people in two groups -- Phase 1A and Phase 1B. The bottom line is that if you don’t fall into either of these groups, you are not eligible to receive the coronavirus vaccine at this time. However, the Texas Department of State Health Services has created a map that helps people locate a vaccine provider. If you believe you are eligible to receive the vaccine, you should contact your health care provider or pharmacist to find out where you can get the shot. Here are answers to other Ask 2 questions about the vaccine:

HOUSTON – The Texas Department of State Health Services says some healthcare workers are growing frustrated since they’re not affiliated with large institutions to receive the vaccine for coronavirus. Click here for clarification on who is in Phase 1A and Phase 1B. Guidance on Vaccinating Phase 1A and 1B Populations“As COVID-19 vaccine begins to be distributed more widely in Texas, the opportunity to vaccinate additional individuals will increase. The state-issued guidance to move down the priority list from frontline workers to essential workers and people 65 and older. We anticipate continuing to offer to all in the initial 1a tier even as we move into vaccinations for tier 1b.

The Texas Department of State Health Services reported Monday a pandemic high 11,351 hospitalizations from COVID-19. This hospital data does not account for people who are hospitalized but have not gotten a positive test, and DSHS says some hospitals may be missing from the daily counts. As of Monday, the state is also reporting 49 deaths from COVID-19, a lagging indicator of the extent of transmission rates, and more than 12,800 new confirmed COVID-19 cases. Earlier this month, Texas' ICU capacity was already the lowest since the start of the pandemic, leaving health care experts worried hospitals could be pushed to the brink as coronavirus cases continue to climb. Across the state, COVID-19 patients occupy 17.8% of the state's hospital beds, and only 745 staffed ICU beds are still available.

Texans who are 65 years old and older, and those who are at least 16 with certain chronic medical conditions will be next in line for the COVID-19 vaccine, the Texas Department of State Health Services announced on Monday. There are nearly 1.9 million Texans in that group, so it will likely take a few weeks before the state transitions to the next phase, state health officials said. The state expects to receive 1.4 million vaccine doses by the end of the month. A panel — comprised of state lawmakers, state and local health officials, medical experts and researchers — recommended those eligible for the next phase on Dec. 17. More than 42,000 doses of the vaccine had been administered in Texas as of Monday, state data shows.

The CDC will deliver 460,500 doses of the vaccine manufactured by Moderna and 159,900 doses of the Pfizer vaccine to continue to vaccinate frontline health care workers and residents of long-term care facilities. The Glenn Lakes Pharmacy in Missouri City is of the 1,100 healthcare providers that will receive the COVID-19 vaccine sometime this week. Finley says her pharmacy will get 200 doses of the Moderna Vaccine that will be for healthcare providers. Finley says she won’t have to worry about storage conditions for the Moderna vaccine. The Moderna vaccine is good for 30 days in the refrigerator and six months in the freezer.

The list is maintained by the Texas Department of State Health Services.

HOUSTON – Officials with the Texas Department of State Health Services anticipate receiving 460,000 vials of the Moderna vaccine next week and plan to use this vaccine to cover rural areas and smaller healthcare providers. “Most of rural Texas is at capacity and can’t expand, and it’s not as much about space as it is staff and equipment. They just don’t have that capacity.”Henderson agrees the Moderna vaccine is a perfect fit for rural Texas. This vaccine doesn’t have to be stored at ultra-cold temperatures like the Pfizer vaccine. The full FDA will make a decision by the weekend as to whether it will allow the Moderna vaccine to be used.

(AP Photo/Paul Sancya, File)HOUSTON – The Texas Department of State Health Services announced nearly 95,000 doses of the COVID-19 are headed to the hospitals across the state. The state expects the vaccine for the remaining 86 sites to begin shipping later in the week. MD Anderson is committed to providing workforce members accurate information to help them decide whether and when to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. All safety precautions and current COVID-19 protocols, including masking, social distancing, handwashing and visitor limitations, continue to be required. Photos and video content from the vaccine delivery will be made available on Monday.

HOUSTON – State health officials said more than 5,000 healthcare providers have enrolled with the Texas Department of State Health Services to distribute the COVID-19 vaccine. Texas’ Expert Vaccine Allocation Panel is working on who will be among the next to receive the vaccine. Only documented healthcare providers who’ve enrolled with the state can receive the vaccine. Healthcare providers also had to prove they could store the Pfizer vaccine at sub-zero temperatures. Texas’ first-week allotment schedule shows the nearly 225,000 doses will be sent to 109 healthcare providers in 34 counties.

HOUSTON – Health care workers likely to provide direct care for COVID-19 patients and other vulnerable residents will likely be the first group to receive the coronavirus vaccine in Texas, Gov. This includes staff at hospitals and long-term care facilities, emergency medical services and home health care workers. Here is a classification of health care workers, based on a news release from the state. Home health care workers, including hospice care, who directly interface with vulnerable and high-risk patientsSecond Tier1. Direct care staff in freestanding emergency medical care facilities and urgent care clinics 3.

Greg Abbott announced Friday that the Texas Department of State Health Services is going to distribute a COVID-19 antibody therapy to hospitals across Texas. Abbott’s office said it is allocating an initial shipment of Bamlanivimab, the Eli Lilly & Company monoclonal antibody therapy, to be distributed as early as next week to acute care hospitals across the state. Bamlanivimab is for outpatient use in people who have tested positive for COVID-19 and are at increased risk of severe disease. Abbott’s office said DSHS will allocate this initial distribution of Bamlanivimab based on three criteria: new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the community, new lab-confirmed COVID-19 admissions to hospitals, and total lab-confirmed COVID-19 patients in hospitals. “I thank the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for providing Texas with this crucial antibody therapy that will help keep Texans safe and mitigate the spread of COVID-19.”

HOUSTON – Texas is supplying 2.8 million doses of flu vaccine for children and adults. Greg Abbott announced that the Texas Department of State Health Services will provide the vaccines for the Texas Vaccines for Children Program and the new Adult Influenza Vaccine Initiative. “The Texas Vaccines For Children Program and the Adult Influenza Vaccine Initiative will provide these effective, voluntary vaccines to Texans across the state and help us protect the health and safety of our communities. Participating in medical practices, community clinics and health departments have ordered 1.8 million doses of free flu vaccine this flu season. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has provided one million flu vaccines to DSHS, which will distribute them through the Adult Influenza Vaccine Initiative to adults who are at higher risk of COVID-19 infection or severe disease.

Credit: Shelby Tauber for The Texas TribuneNeed to stay updated on coronavirus news in Texas? The Texas Department of State Health Services has posted new data on COVID-19 cases in schools, one week after it had to retract its first attempt at providing district-by-district breakdowns of reported infections. The state health agency and Texas Education Agency plan to release weekly compilations of case numbers statewide and at the district level as reported to them by school districts. The 333 school districts with hidden case numbers reported more COVID-19 cases than students enrolled in person, which is almost certainly inaccurate. Disclosure: The Texas State Teachers Association has been a financial supporter of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors.

Editor’s note: After this story was published, the Texas Department of State Health Services removed the data from its website, citing “issues” with the numbers. The state recorded 1,212 new cases among public school students between Sept. 13 and Sept. 20 and 660 new cases among staff. The numbers, the first comprehensive state data showing where cases have occurred in Texas, illustrate how widespread infections are. The coronavirus has put Texas school districts, and parents, in the difficult position of balancing health and educational concerns for their children. In Texas, 53% of public school students are Hispanic, and 13% are Black.

It also means that each day’s positivity rate will be an oft-changing number, fluctuating as officials collect lab results over time. It marks the latest in a series of data methodology changes and corrections health officials have issued over the course of the pandemic. While touting the new reporting method as an improvement, state officials defended the old system as providing the best information that was available at the time. “As the COVID-19 pandemic evolves, so must the data we share,” Texas Department of State Health Services Commissioner John Hellerstedt said in a prepared statement. Texas health officials said Monday that the positivity rate is just one of many metrics that inform disease surveillance.

Now, theres a new use for all of those patients who wear a continuous glucose monitor (CGM). One healthcare giant says people who wear them should pay special attention to any abnormalities in their daily readings because it might be a good tool for catching a COVID-19 infection early. How his CGM and smartwatch saved himThe CGMs can work together with smart devices to alert diabetic patients when blood sugar is too high or too low. Sudden changes in blood sugar control may point to a potential COVID infection and we know of those that have died from COVID-19, 40% had diabetes. This could be an important key to catching coronavirus early, and in this group of people with diabetes, thats particularly important.

HOUSTON The Hispanic community has been one of the communities hardest hit by the coronavirus in Texas. According to the Texas Department of State Health Services, about 40% of people who have tested positive for coronavirus are Hispanic. Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner announced Monday that of the seven new coronavirus-related deaths, six were members of the Hispanic community. RELATED: Hispanic community urged to get tested as COVID-19 hits group hardest in Houston-areaGov. Greg Abbotts office launched a Spanish-language public service announcement Monday in an effort to bring more awareness in the community and mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

May-Ying Lam for the Texas TribuneAs Texas sets records for new COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations day after day, the states hospital capacity one of the key metrics that Gov. But the state isnt releasing the information it collects about how many beds individual hospitals have available. According to data from DSHS, the state had 1,322 available intensive care unit beds and close to 13,000 available hospital beds Wednesday. Some of the regional advisory councils provide county-level breakdowns of available hospital beds within their boundaries, including the Southeast Texas Regional Advisory Council, which includes Houston. Many local government and health authorities have opted not to make hospital capacity information public.

The City of Houston reported 844 new coronavirus cases and 10 additional deaths on Saturday. City health officials said that the case count was due in part to a large record feed from the Texas Department of State Health Services. The Houston Health Department confirmed a total of 12,533 COVID-19 cases, including 191 deaths. Officials said the latest deaths reported Saturday had underlying health conditions. The news comes as the state reports an upswing in cases and hospitalizations related to COVID-19.

For the second day in a row, data released on Tuesday by the Texas Department of State Health Services shows a record number of hospitalizations due to the new coronavirus. Eddie Gaspar/The Texas TribuneFor the second day in a row, Texas has reported a record number of patients hospitalized with the new coronavirus, a metric Gov. Data released Tuesday by the Texas Department of State Health Services shows 2,056 people were hospitalized with COVID-19, up from 1,935 the day before. The hospitalization figures and the total number of new infections have trended upward since about late May. Experts have said theres a lag between when changes in people's behaviors, like more social interaction, are reflected in coronavirus case data.

The Texas Department of State Health Services is tracking the number of COVID-19 cases and deaths in each county. The data shows a promising sign in Fort Bend County. The county went nine days without any new COVID-19 deaths. The state reports one new death on May 22, but since then, the number has dropped back to zero new deaths. See all of the Texas Department of State Health Services’ coronavirus charts and county trends here.

Using data from the Texas Department of State Health Services, the Texas Tribune is tracking how many people have tested positive for the novel coronavirus in Texas each day.

In Texas, more than 200 people have now tested positive for the novel coronavirus, and five people have died. That’s according to the Texas Department of State Health Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Texas Tribune reports that’s a 30% increase over the 161 cases reported Thursday and an 123% increase from the 95 cases reported Wednesday. Here’s a look at some of the images that tell the story of coronavirus in Texas in the last week. People were lined up in their cars in a line that stretched over two miles to be tested in the drive-thru testing for coronavirus.

HOUSTON – A report conducted by the Texas Department of State Health Services has confirmed a cancer cluster in northeast Houston. Significantly higher than normal diagnoses of the deadly disease were found among residents of the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens neighborhoods, the study confirmed. The report analyzed data from the Texas Cancer Registry over a 17-year period, from 2000 to 2016. “Our neighborhood is contaminated from Union Pacific,” Edwards insisted. Cantu represents Impact Fifth Ward and its push for answers about creosote cleanup and cancer.