Northern Texas counties reporting record numbers of COVID-19 deaths
County leaders say these high numbers are in line with expectations after peaks in infections and hospitalizations in December and January.
DALLAS – County leaders have warned of the expectation of a high number of deaths from coronavirus, and this is happening.
Dallas County reported 39 deaths on Tuesday after 40 the day before and after the most lethal week of the pandemic last week.
Tarrant County reported 37 deaths on Tuesday, the second highest daily total in the pandemic.
County leaders say these high numbers are in line with expectations after peaks in infections and hospitalizations in December and January.
Tarrant, Dallas, Collin and Denton counties reported on Tuesday that 2,637 coronavirus patients are hospitalized. COVID-19 patients are using just under 19% of hospital capacity in the greater North Texas region.
The continued gradual decline in hospitalizations since mid-January is easing some of the pressure on healthcare professionals.
Although deaths continue to be reported at a high level, the number of hospital patients is projected to continue to decline.
Northern Texas hospitals reached high pandemic levels after the holiday. Although COVID’s patient capacity is still high, there has been a gradual downward trend.
It is an encouraging sign for Parkland Hospital’s medical director, Dr. Joseph Chang.
“Our rate of asymptomatic carriers is falling. Our rates of positivity are falling,” he said. “So, we’re all excited about it.”
In the past two weeks, UT Southwestern models have shown a 17% reduction in patients in Tarrant County and a 7% decline in Dallas County.
Parkland Hospital had 230 patients with COVID on Tuesday. A few weeks ago, they were 260.
“It gives them a boost in their steps,” said Chang. “It gives them the energy to come back the next day and know that there is that light.”
UT Southwestern says the decline will continue in our most populous counties.
In Tarrant County, there are 465 fewer patients with COVID since last month’s peak. In Dallas County, that number is 312.
Levels are also decreasing in Collin and Denton counties. Collin has 94 patients less than the January peak and Denton County has 52 fewer.
“The work doesn’t stop. We still have a lot of patients,” said Dr. Chang. “We still have a lot of patients, and many of them are demanding a lot of care and some are dying.”
The COVID-19 threat will remain high in the foreseeable future.
Dr. Chang says people need to continue to make safe decisions.
“All the signs are good now,” he said. “We need people to stay on course and get the vaccine.”