Only 4 ICU Beds Available In Montgomery County As COVID-19 Spikes

CONROE, TX — There are only four operational intensive care unit beds available in Montgomery County, in large part because of COVID-19 cases reaching peak levels, the Montgomery County Public Health District said in its Monday update.

Of the 174 ICU beds in the county, 170 are filled, with 61 of those occupied by COVID-19 patients, health officials said.

"Hospitalizations for COVID-19 are nearing peak levels in Montgomery County," MCPHD said in a news release. "The vast majority of new cases and essentially all hospitalizations are in those who are unvaccinated."

In Montgomery County, 304 COVID-19 patients are hospitalized, an increase of 41 since Friday.

MCPHD announced there are 5,480 active cases in the county, an increase of 642 since Friday. Health officials added 822 total cases, bringing Montgomery County’s total to 62,543 cases since the beginning of the pandemic. Of the 822 new cases, 95 are in children under 12 years old. The positive test rate also increased from 19 percent to 21 percent since Friday, according to the University of Texas School of Public Health.

MCPHD also confirmed the death of another person with COVID-19 in the county, a Conroe woman in her 60s. She was not vaccinated. Since the beginning of the pandemic, 356 Montgomery County residents have died with COVID-19.

According to data from the Texas Department of State Health Services, 49.16 percent of eligible Montgomery County residents age 12 and older are fully vaccinated, compared to 53.55 percent for the state of Texas. Both lag behind the national rate of 58.7 percent, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

How to get vaccinated

DSHS has set up a public vaccination website to help Texans register for a COVID-19 vaccine appointment close to them. To schedule an appointment, click here.

National pharmacies CVS and Walgreens also are distributing the vaccine across the country. To check availability in your area and register for a vaccine, click here for CVS and here for Walgreens.

For more information on vaccination locations throughout Texas, click here.