Over 4,500 COVID deaths reported in Harris Co.

HARRIS COUNTY, Texas (KTRK) -- The City of Houston and Harris County reached 4,502 deaths from COVID-19 on Sunday, the Harris County Public Health Department announced on Twitter.

The department also reported there are currently 398,573 confirmed cases of the virus in the county and the city combined.

Of the newly added cases since Saturday, 152 of those are marked as recent in Harris County.

Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo updated the threat level to ORANGE after the county reached a 6.8% positivity rate.

While COVID-19 continues to be a public health emergency, Hidalgo acknowledged key metrics have trended favorably enough to lower Harris County's coronavirus threat level from "severe" to "significant."

According to a slightly reworked definition of the second highest threat level, the orange level signifies a "significant and uncontrolled level" of COVID in the county, meaning that there is ongoing transmission of the virus.

"At this level, unvaccinated residents should minimize contact with others, avoiding any medium or large gatherings, and only visiting permissible businesses that follow public health guidance. Unvaccinated individuals should continue to mask, physical distance, and avoid all medium and large gatherings," the county states.

For information on where to get vaccinated, visit the public health department's website.

The video above is from a previous story.

SEE RELATED STORY: Harris Co. Judge lowers COVID threat level from 'red' to 'orange'