TSA including Smith, Gregg counties above 15 percent hospitalization rate 29 days straight
Piney Woods RAC (Source: Department of State Health Services)
By Gary Bass | January 12, 2021 at 3:36 PM CST - Updated January 13 at 1:12 AM
TYLER, Texas (KLTV) - For the past 29 days, the trauma service area that includes Smith and Gregg Counties has had a COVID-19 hospitalization rate of more than 15 percent of its hospitals' total capacity.
On Tuesday, the Texas Department of State Health Services reported a hospitalization rate of 21.40 percent, which is down from the number posted Monday. Yesterday, the hospitalization rate was at 24.33 percent.
TSA Area G hit the seven-day mark on Dec. 21, and as a result, some businesses have been required to scale back to opening at 50-percent of their capacity. Other businesses may be required to close.
The last time that TSA G was below 15-percent was on Dec. 14, when the area's hospitalization rate was at 14.26 percent.
Counties included in Trauma Service Area G include Anderson, Camp, Cherokee, Franklin, Freestone, Gregg, Harrison, Henderson, Houston, Marion, Panola, Rains, Rusk, Shelby, Smith, Trinity, Upshur, Van Zandt, and Wood.
Trauma Service Area F, which includes the city of Paris, has been above 15 percent for 15 days straight. On Monday, TSA F's hospitalization rate was at 22.01 percent.
Counties included in Trauma Service Area F include Lamar, Delta, Hopkins, Red River, Titus, Morris, Bowie, and Cass.
Gov. Greg Abbott announced on Sept. 17 that counties could reopen businesses to 75 percent capacity and allow the resumption of elective surgeries. Bars were also allowed to reopen at 50 percent capacity. However, counties in Trauma Service Areas with over 15 percent COVID-19 hospitalizations for seven consecutive days would be excluded from that reopening.
To go back to 75 percent capacity, the rate needs to be below 15 percent for seven-straight days.
Gary Bass
Gary Bass grew up in Athens, Texas. He started his college career at Texas A&M University in College Station, and he finished up his bachelor's degree in journalism at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches. Gary started working as a web content producer for KTRE in September of 2012.
Fewer Americans applied for unemployment benefits last week, lowering claims to 900,000, still a historically high level that points to further job cuts in a raging pandemic.
Lindale coach Travis Gray dies after COVID-19 hospitalization