Dallas County reports 25 deaths from COVID-19, plus 372 cases, ending the fifth most lethal week of the pandemic

Updated at 16:30: Revised to include data and details from Denton County on the most recent victims in Dallas County.

Dallas County reported an additional 25 deaths from COVID-19 and 372 new cases of coronavirus on Saturday.

County Judge Clay Jenkins said in a written statement that this was the fifth most deadly week in the county pandemic.

“I am hopeful that deaths will decrease soon,” said Jenkins. “We are seeing good trends in our COVID hospitalizations and ICU numbers as more and more people are vaccinated and residents continue to practice good COVID safety and benefit from being able to meet outdoors in warmer climates.”

Of the latest victims, 13 were from Dallas, including three women in their 80s and 90s who lived in long-term care facilities. Two of the Dallas victims, a woman in her 60s and a man in her 80s, died at home.

The deaths also include three people from Irving, two from Garland, Mesquite and Rowlett, including a 90-year-old woman who lived in a long-term care facility.

All but one of the victims were 60 or older. Twenty-two had underlying health problems and most had been hospitalized.

Of the new cases, 201 were confirmed and 171 were likely. The figures bring the county’s grand total of cases to 284,010, including 247,550 confirmed and 36,460 probable. The death toll is 3,122.

This week, Dallas County also reported five new cases of the most contagious coronavirus B.1.1.7 variant, bringing the county total to nine. Of the five most recent cases, two live in Dallas, two in Garland and one in Sachse.

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 Friday, 358 patients with COVID-19 were in intensive care at hospitals in the municipality. During the same period, 394 visits to the emergency room were for symptoms of the disease.

According to the state, 336,403 people in Dallas County received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, while 192,721 – 9.6% of the county’s population aged 16 or older – are fully vaccinated.

Texas

Across the state, an additional 5,570 COVID-19 cases were reported on Saturday, including 4,713 new cases and 857 older cases recently reported by laboratories.

The state also recorded 233 deaths from COVID-19, bringing the number of victims to 44,367.

Of the new cases, 3,631 were confirmed and 1,082 were probable. Of the oldest cases, 704 were confirmed and 153 were likely.

The state’s total cases are now 2,683,865, including 2,318,522 confirmed and 365,343 probable.

There are 4,921 COVID-19 patients in Texas hospitals, including 1,163 in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. As of Friday, 6.94% of patients in the region of the hospital that covers the Dallas-Fort Worth area were patients with COVID-19 – below the 15% limit that the state uses to define high hospitalizations.

The statewide seven-day average positivity rate for molecular testing, based on the date of collection of the test sample, was 7.96% on Friday. For the antigen tests, the positivity rate for the same period was 4.05%. 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, 4,201,888 people in Texas received at least one dose of the coronavirus vaccine, while 2,319,520 – 10.3% of the state’s population aged 16 and over – are fully vaccinated.

Tarrant County

Tarrant County reported 28 deaths and 325 cases on Saturday. Details about the victims were not immediately available.

Of the new cases, 255 were confirmed and 70 were likely. The numbers bring the county’s total cases to 244,957, including 207,906 confirmed and 37,051 probable. The death toll is 2,995.

According to the city, 400 people were hospitalized with the virus until Friday.

According to the state, 251,865 people in Tarrant County received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, while 171,777 – 10.8% of the county’s population aged 16 and over – are fully vaccinated.

Collin County

The state added five deaths and 70 cases to the Collin County total on Saturday. No details on the latest victims were available.

Of the new cases, 42 were confirmed and 28 were likely. The numbers bring the county’s total cases to 83,890, including 70,302 confirmed and 13,588 probable. The death toll is 794.

According to the municipality, 282 people are hospitalized with the virus.

According to the state, 155,020 people in Collin County received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, while 97,129 – 12% of the county’s population aged 16 and over – are fully vaccinated.

Denton County

Denton County reported no deaths and 316 cases on Saturday.

The new reported cases bring the county’s total cases to 67,158, including 50,534 confirmed and 16,624 probable. The death toll is 425.

According to the city, 53 people are hospitalized with the virus.

According to the state, 113,181 people in Denton County received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, while 68,647 – 9.8% of the county’s population aged 16 and over – are fully vaccinated.

Other counties

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

The last numbers are:

• Rockwall County: 10,727 cases (8,818 confirmed and 1,909 probable), 133 deaths.
• Kaufman County: 15,021 cases (12,773 confirmed and 2,248 likely), 224 deaths.
• Ellis County: 21,380 cases (18,124 confirmed and 3,256 likely), 288 deaths.
• Johnson County: 18,775 cases (16,166 confirmed and 2,609 probable), 333 deaths.