HOUSTON — Texas' Department of State Health Services reported 9,167 new COVID-19 cases and 245 new deaths on Tuesday.
In the last seven days, (July 29 to August 4), Texas averaged 8,207 new cases per day, 9,043 current hospitalizations, 230 new fatalities per day, according to DSHS.
The state's seven-day average positivity rate is now increasing after two weeks of a downward trend from July 16 to July 31. Tuesday, DSHS reported a third consecutive day of increase in that rate, now at 13.88 percent, meaning more than one in every eight people tested is positive for coronavirus.
The Houston Health Department reported 715 cases Tuesday and 11 newly reported deaths.
Harris County outside of Houston reported 723 cases Tuesday, a single-day high. The previous high was 683 on July 25. The county also reported 11 newly reported deaths.
County Judge Lina Hidalgo announced 30,000 new tests the federal government expedited to Harris County because of the need. She also announced new contracts with labs that can process the test results in a maximum of 3 to 5 days. She said those labs will still be available to process other tests after the 30,000 from the federal government run out.
The county sites at Pridgeon Stadium and San Jacinto College will also offer evening hours from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. starting Aug. 6.
Harris County (including Houston) leads the state in total cases with 78,105. Dallas County is second with 51,490.
Harris County also leads the state in deaths with 1,367, more than double the number in second-ranked Dallas County with 672.
This story will be updated.