NEW COVID WAVE, SAME STRESSORS
Fueled by the delta variant, a surge in Houston COVID-19 hospitalizations is growing as fast as at any time during the pandemic so far and is projected to pass previous records by mid-August — even though roughly half of all eligible Houstonians are fully vaccinated. The Texas Department of State Health Services reported 7,305 people were hospitalized statewide for COVID-19 as of Tuesday — more than four times as many as on July 1 and a 38 percent increase over last Tuesday’s figure. On Thursday, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo returned the county to the highest COVID-19 threat level, but she is barred by a state order from mandating masks again.