BELL COUNTY, Texas — The Bell County Public Health District reported two additional deaths related to COVID-19 Friday bringing the total to 17.
The district also reported 76 additional cases and a positivity rate of 8.27%. Bell County reported 1,691 active cases. The 7-Day average for cases reported was 80 which was the third consecutive day for that number to decline.
The Waco-McLennan County Public Health also reported two deaths bringing the total to 22. The 21st was a 75-year-old Hispanic man. The 22nd was a 66-year-old white man, according to Waco Public Information Officer Larry Holze. Both men died in the hospital. The 7-day positivity rate average as of Wednesday was 22%
Both health districts have pointed out the large majority of cases are among people between the ages of 20 and 29. The Bell County dashboard shows of the 2,534 cases reported 610 of them were ages 20-29.
McLennan County was reporting a total of 3,096 reported cases with 1,292 still active. The county dashboard showed, as of Thursday, 24 percent of the cases were among people ages 20-29.
Baylor Scott & White-Hillcrest and Ascension Providence also addressed the state of hospital bed capacity.
"While there has been an increase in the number of COVID-19 hospitalizations recently in McLennan County, we are confident our facilities have sufficient capacity and staff to continue caring for patients with a variety of medical needs at this time."
As of Thursday, McLennan County showed 67 people were hospitalized with 10 COVID-19 patients on ventilators. The dashboard showed 43 of the 54 ICU beds were in use. The county reported on Wednesday that 24 of the ICU beds were COVID-19 patients.
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