Dallas County reports 25 COVID-19 deaths, another 372 cases, ending fifth fatal week of pandemic

16:30 updated: Review to include Denton County data and details on the most recent Dallas County victims.

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

District Judge Clay Jenkins said in a written statement that this was the province’s fifth deadliest week of the pandemic.

“I’m hope the death toll will drop soon,” Jenkins said. “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 congregate outside in warmer weather.”

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

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

All but one of the victims were in their 60s or older. Twenty-two had underlying health conditions, and most were hospitalized.

Of the new cases, 201 were confirmed and 171 likely. The numbers bring the total case of the province to 284,010, including 247,550 confirmed and 36,460 likely. The death toll is 3,122.

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

Health officials use hospitalizations, admissions to intensive care and visits to emergencies as key statistics to track the real-time impact of COVID-19 in the country. In the 24-hour period that ended Friday, 358 COVID-19 patients were in acute care in hospitals across the country. During the same period, 394 ER visits were for symptoms of the disease.

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

Texas

Across the state, 5705 cases of COVID-19 were reported on Saturday, including 4,713 new cases and 857 older cases recently reported by laboratories.

The state also reported 233 COVID-19 deaths, which increased its toll to 44,367.

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

The state’s total is now 2,683,865, including 2,318,522 confirmed and 365,343 likely.

There are 4,921 COVID-19 patients in Texas hospitals, including 1,163 in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. On Friday, 6.94% of patients in the hospital region covering the Dallas-Fort Worth area were COVID-19 patients – below the 15% threshold used by the state to define high hospitalizations.

The seven-day average positivity rate across the country for molecular tests, based on the date of collection of the test sample, was 7.96% on Friday. For 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. Gov. Greg Abbott said a positive rate of more than 10% is cause for concern.

According to the state, 4,201,888 people in Texas received at least one dose of coronavirus vaccine, while 2,319,520 – 10.3% of the population aged 16 and over – were 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 have been confirmed and 70 likely. The numbers bring the province’s case to 244,957, including 207,906 confirmed and 37,051 likely. The death toll is 2,995.

According to the province, 400 people have been admitted to hospital since Friday.

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

Collin county

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

Of the new cases, 42 were confirmed and 28 likely. The number brings the case in the province to 83,890, including 70,302 confirmed and 13,588 likely. The death toll is 794.

According to the province, 282 people with the virus are being admitted to hospital.

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

Denton county

Denton County reported no deaths and 316 cases on Saturday.

The newly reported cases bring the province’s case to 67,158, including 50,534 confirmed and 16,624 likely. The death toll is 425.

According to the province, 53 people with the virus are being admitted to hospital.

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

Other provinces

The Texas Department of Public Health has taken over reporting for these other North Texas counties. In some provinces, new data is not reported every day.

The latest 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 probable), 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.