TEXAS – The COVID-19 case numbers reported in Texas Wednesday evening didn’t top the record-setting data that came in the day prior, but they were close.
The Texas Department of State Health Services most recently reported 14,758 new cases of the virus. That’s down just slightly from the 15,182 reported on Tuesday.
In addition, the agency Wednesday reported 207 new fatalities associated with the virus. That brings the total numbers of deaths in the Lone Star State to 21,756.
There are currently an estimated 188,917 active cases of the virus in the state and an estimated 993,151 recoveries. There have been a total 1,200,674 cases reported in the state.
Harris County, which includes Houston and the surrounding area, is rapidly approaching a total 200,000 cases. As of Thursday that number is 192,127.
Hard-hit El Paso County is currently reporting a total of 87,779 cases.
Currently, 9,109 people are being treated for the virus in Texas hospitals. There are 11,719 hospital beds available in the state, and there are 722 available ICU beds.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Wednesday evening announced 1.4 million COVID-19 vaccine doses are headed to the state, with an anticipated arrival date of December 14.
Those first doses will go to frontline health care workers and people identified as vulnerable.
"The State of Texas is already prepared for the arrival of a COVID-19 vaccine, and will swiftly distribute these vaccines to Texans who voluntarily choose to be immunized,” Abbott stated in a press release. "As we await the first shipment of these vaccines, we will work with communities to mitigate the spread of COVID-19."