In the four largest counties in northern Texas on Saturday, there were A further 47 reported COVID-19 deaths and another 716 new reported cases of the virus. Meanwhile, the percentage of people hospitalized for COVID-19 continues to fall and is now at 5.34% in TSA-E.
County specific details for Dallas, Tarrant, Denton and Collin counties are below based on data reported on Saturday, March 13, by county officials, local health departments and the state health department.
Dallas County
Dallas County reported an additional 24 deaths from COVID-19 on Saturday, along with 267 cases of the virus. In the past seven days, the municipality announced 2,341 new and probable cases of the virus, an average of 334 per day, and 177 deaths, an average of 25 deaths per day.
Since March 2020, the county has notified a total of 286,351 cases of the virus, including 249,246 confirmed cases (PCR) and 37,105 probable cases (antigen). There were 3,299 deaths attributed to the virus; there are currently an estimated 273,944 recoveries, leaving 9,108 estimated active cases in the county.
Tarrant County
Tarrant County Public Health added 23 more deaths from COVID-19 on Saturday, along with 303 new cases of the virus. In the past seven days, the municipality announced 2,179 new and probable cases of the virus, an average of 311 per day, and 102 deaths, an average of 15 deaths per day.
Since March 2020, the county has notified a total of 247,136 cases of the virus, including 209,311 confirmed cases (PCR) and 37,825 probable cases (antigen). There were deaths attributed to the virus; there are currently an estimated 235,831 recoveries, leaving 8,208 estimated active cases in the county.
Denton County
Denton County Public Health reports another 65 new cases of COVID-19 on Saturday. Of the new cases reported, DCPH confirmed that 42 are active, while 23 have already approved the recovery protocol.
Since March 2020, Denton County has reported a total of 69,633 cases of the virus, including 51,818 confirmed cases (PCR) and 17,815 probable cases (antigen). There were 431 deaths attributed to the virus; there are currently an estimated 59,124 recoveries, leaving an estimated 10,143 active cases in the county.
Collin County
The Texas Department of Health Services reports 81 new cases of the virus, including 43 new confirmed cases (PCR) and 38 probable cases (antigen). The state also added 120 recoveries.
Since March 2020, the DSHS has reported a total of 84,925 cases of the virus in Collin County, including 70,988 confirmed cases (PCR) and 13,588 probable cases (antigen). There were 763 deaths attributed to the virus; there are currently an estimated 83,681 recoveries, leaving 481 estimated active cases in the county.
Want to get on a vaccine waiting list?
As the state begins to distribute COVID-19 vaccines to those in Phases 1A and 1B, county health departments have started making waiting lists for those who wish to be vaccinated.
You can now register to receive vaccinations in Collin, Dallas, Denton and Tarrant counties. The links are below:
Waiting list links: Collin – Research Waiting List | Dallas | Denton | Tarrant
You don’t have to be a county resident to register for a COVID-19 vaccine in that county – registration is open to anyone in Texas. For those without access to the Internet, Tarrant County is also accepting applications by calling 817-248-6299. In Dallas County, call the DCHHS vaccine hotline at 1-855-IMMUNE9 (1-855-466-8639). In Denton County, call 940-349-2585.
The vaccine is currently being administered only to those who are part of Phases 1A and 1B, as described by the Texas Department of Health Services. Those in Phase 1A are frontline health professionals or residents of long-term care facilities. Phase 1B includes those over 65 or those over 16 with a chronic medical condition that puts them at risk for serious illness.
On March 3, the vaccine’s availability was expanded to include school and daycare staff. On March 15, the vaccine’s eligibility will be expanded to include Phase 1C, which will be those aged 50 to 64 years.
The groups that will be in Phase 2 and Phase 3 are currently being considered by state health officials. As more vaccines become available, authorities hope to be able to substantially increase distribution. President Biden said the vaccine should be available to all Americans by May 1.
Once vaccinated, people are expected to achieve some level of protection a few weeks after the first injection, but full protection may not happen until a few weeks after the second injection. Even when fully vaccinated, it is still possible to be infected by the virus, as the vaccine does not offer 100% protection.
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