Three COVID-19 Metrics Reach Record Highs In Montgomery County

CONROE, TX — Montgomery County has reached a pandemic high in three key COVID-19 indicators, the Montgomery County Public Health District confirmed in its Wednesday update.

The county surpassed the highest number of active cases, cases in children under 12 years old and COVID-19 patients in intensive care units, health officials said. Montgomery County has 11,227 active cases, an increase of 406 from Monday, and 110 COVID-19 patients are occupying ICU beds in county hospitals. Active cases previously spiked at 10,774 on January 14, while ICU cases continue to climb weeks after surpassing the previous high from February.

With the more contagious delta variant behind the latest wave of the pandemic, younger residents are being infected at rates much higher than previous waves. In August, there were 1,794 cases of COVID-19 among children under 12 years old in Montgomery County, nearly three times more than any other month during the pandemic. Since cases started rising in July, 2,252 children in the county tested positive.

Health officials also confirmed the deaths of two more county residents, including one who was fully vaccinated. An unvaccinated man in his 60s from The Woodlands and a fully vaccinated man in his 80s from Montgomery accounted for the latest deaths, bringing the county's total to 374.

MCPHD added 1,100 cases in Wednesday's update, giving Montgomery County a total of 73,736 cases since the start of the pandemic. Throughout the county, 345 people are hospitalized with COVID-19. The positive test rate stayed at 21 percent, where it has been for nearly a week.

Health authorities continue to urge residents to receive a COVID-19 vaccination if they haven't already done so, and just 52.76 percent of eligible Montgomery County residents 12 and older are fully vaccinated, according to data from the Texas Department of State Health Services.

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.

For questions about COVID-19, including the state-funded infusion treatment center in The Woodlands, call the Montgomery County COVID-19 Call Center at 936-523-3916. It is open Monday-Thursday from 8:00am-4:30pm and Friday 8:00am-4:00pm.