Dallas County reports 18 more deaths from coronavirus, 726 new cases

Dallas County reported 726 new cases of coronavirus on Friday, as well as an additional 18 deaths from COVID-19.

The last victims were mostly in their 60s or older. Two – a Dallas woman in her 50s and a Garland man in her 80s – did not have underlying high-risk health conditions.

Six of the victims were residents of Dallas, two were from DeSoto, Garland, Grand Prairie and Mesquite, and one lived in Cedar Hill, Coppell, Mesquite and Richardson.

County Judge Clay Jenkins said in a written statement that officials “soon” should know the precise numbers for new daily cases, after last week’s weather led to delays in testing and reporting.

Of the new cases, 527 were confirmed and 199 were likely. The figures bring the county’s grand total of cases to 279,834, including 244,862 confirmed and 34,972 probable. The death toll is 2,941.

Health officials use hospitalizations, intensive care admissions and visits to emergency rooms as key metrics to track the real-time impact of COVID-19 in the county. In the 24-hour period ended on Thursday, 486 patients with COVID-19 were in intensive care at hospitals in the municipality. During the same period, 336 visits to the emergency room were for symptoms of the disease.

According to the state, 272,244 people in Dallas County received at least one dose of the coronavirus vaccine, while 140,314 are fully vaccinated.

Texas

Across the state, 7,955 more cases were reported on Friday, including 7,332 new cases and 623 older cases recently reported by laboratories.

The state also recorded 290 deaths from COVID-19, bringing the number of victims to 42,575.

Of the new cases, 5,192 were confirmed and 2,140 were probable. Of the oldest cases, 443 were confirmed and 180 were probable.

The total number of cases in the state is now 2,629,136, including 2,275,506 confirmed and 353,630 probable.

There are 6,185 COVID-19 patients in Texas hospitals, including 1,596 in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. As of Thursday, 9.5% of patients in the region of the hospital covering the Dallas-Fort Worth area were patients with COVID-19 – below the 15% limit used by the state to define high hospitalizations.

The seven-day average positivity rate across the state for molecular testing, based on the date of collection of the test specimen, was 11.9% on Thursday. For antigen tests, the positivity rate for the same period was 4.8%. A molecular test is considered more accurate and is sometimes also called a PCR test; an antigen test is also called a rapid test. Governor Greg Abbott said a positivity rate above 10% is a cause for concern.

According to the state, 3,340,425 people in Texas received at least one dose of the coronavirus vaccine, while 1,681,947 are fully vaccinated.

Tarrant County

Tarrant County reported 589 cases of coronavirus and 23 deaths on Friday.

Most of the most recent victims were 60 or older and all had underlying high-risk health conditions. Eight were residents of Fort Worth, six were from Arlington and each lived in Benbrook, Crowley, Edgecliff Village, Euless, Mansfield, North Richland Hills, Saginaw, Southlake and an unincorporated area.

Tarrant County has reported a higher death toll on Fridays because of when it receives data from the state’s death certificate.

Of the new cases, 456 were confirmed and 133 were likely. The numbers bring the county’s total cases to 241,005, including 205,206 confirmed and 35,799 probable. The death toll is 2,841.

According to the municipality, 489 people are hospitalized with the virus until Thursday – the lowest number of hospitalizations in the municipality in about four months.

According to the state, 207,305 people in Tarrant County received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, while 134,120 are fully vaccinated.

Collin County

The state added 458 cases of coronavirus and four deaths to the Collin County total on Friday.

No details about the latest victims were available.

Of the new cases, 292 were confirmed and 166 were likely. The numbers bring the county’s total cases to 82,848, including 69,745 confirmed and 13,103 probable. The death toll is 716.

According to the municipality, 276 people are hospitalized with the virus.

According to the state, 129,468 people in Collin County received at least one dose of the coronavirus vaccine, while 57,805 are fully vaccinated.

County Judge Chris Hill rescinded on Friday a COVID-19 disaster declaration he issued last spring. The move, however, was more of a formality because state pandemic-related orders – including a mask order and an order allowing companies to operate at 75% capacity – remain in effect, said the spokesman for Collin County. , Tim Wyatt, by email.

“The disaster declaration being rescinded here today has no effect on the governor’s executive orders or what restrictions may have been changed or removed by the Gov. [Greg] Abbott, ”Wyatt said.

Denton County

Denton County reported 526 cases of coronavirus on Friday. No additional deaths were reported.

The new reported cases bring the county’s total cases to 63,648, including 48,625 confirmed and 15,023 probable. The death toll is 398.

According to the municipality, 112 people are hospitalized with the virus.

According to the state, 94,714 people in Denton County received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, while 35,563 are fully vaccinated.

Other counties

The Texas Department of Health Services has taken over the reports for these other counties in North Texas. In some counties, new data may not be reported every day.

The last numbers are:

• Rockwall County: 10,504 cases (8,668 confirmed and 1,836 probable), 123 deaths.
• Kaufman County: 14,713 cases (12,573 confirmed and 2,140 probable), 215 deaths.
• Ellis County: 20,659 cases (17,909 confirmed and 2,750 probable), 273 deaths.
• Johnson County: 18,477 cases (16,004 confirmed and 2,473 likely), 315 deaths.

The team writer, Jesus Jimenez, contributed to this report.