33 hospitalizations keep pressure on Peterson's staff

Peterson Regional Medical Center's COVID-19 census ticked back up to 33 on Wednesday — marking what may be the longest stretch of more than 30 hospitalizations during the coronavirus pandemic.

None of the 33 Peterson patients were vaccinated. It's unclear how many hospitalizations have happened in August, but Peterson's number suggests a minimum of 53 people. The minimum Peterson hospitalization number for January was 49.

On Wednesday, Peterson reported 19 people are positive for COVID-19 — driving the hospital's number to 446 positive cases in August. With that minimum hospitalization number, about 12% of those testing positive face hospitalization.

The actual number of positive cases is a bit murky. Kerrville Fire Department Chief Eric Maloney said Tuesday night that self-testing kits provide a way for users to send their results to the Texas Department of State Health Services, but how many send the results is unclear.

DSHS reports there are 211 active cases, but Peterson has reported many over the last 10 days.

Across the state, DSHS said there were more than 23,000 cases, and the number of hospitalized is closing on the peak of 14,200 set in January. On Tuesday, 13,900 were hospitalized across Texas — further straining the state's hospitals. There are about 300 intensive care unit beds available across the state.

On Wednesday, Peterson updated its Kerr County death toll to match DSHS' records, but the state has not confirmed the deaths of Peterson Regional Medical Center patients in August. At least 11 Kerr County residents have died in August.