Dallas County reports 18 coronavirus deaths, 294 cases – with an increase in more infectious strains

Dallas County on Friday reported another 18 deaths from COVID-19 and 294 new cases of coronavirus, including more than 30 cases of more infectious strains of the virus.

The youngest victims were mostly in their 60s or older, but included one man in his 20s and another in his 30s. Seven were men and eleven were women, and all 18 had underlying high-risk health conditions.

Thirteen of the victims were residents of Dallas and one each lives in Balch Springs, DeSoto, Grand Prairie, Irving and Mesquite.

District Judge Clay Jenkins said in a written statement that the new cases included 27 cases of variant B.1.1.7, or the UK, and four of variant B.1.429, or California. The province has now reported 46 cases of B.1.1.7 and six of B.1.429.

“The vaccine is effective against all of these variants and we are in a race … to get herd immunity before the vaccine mutates to go beyond the effectiveness of the current vaccine,” Jenkins said.

Of the new cases, 222 have been confirmed and 72 likely. The numbers bring the total case of the province to 293,659 – 253,668 confirmed and 39,991 likely. The death toll is 3,687.

The average number of new daily cases in the province for the past two weeks is 276. For the previous period of 14 days, the average was 265.

Health officials use hospitalizations, intensive care visits and emergency visits as key statistics to track the real-time impact of COVID-19 in the country. In the 24-hour period that ended Thursday, 197 COVID-19 patients were in acute care in hospitals across the country. During the same period, 440 ER visits were for symptoms of the disease.

According to the state, 768,458 people in Dallas County received at least one dose of coronavirus vaccine, while 437,461 – 21.6% of the province’s population 16 and older – were fully vaccinated.

With Pfizer asking the Food and Drug Administration on Friday to extend its emergency use authorization to 12- to 15-year-olds, Jenkins said residents should start registering children in that age group for vaccinations.

Texas

Across the state, another 3,402 cases were reported – 3,018 new cases and 384 older cases were recently reported by laboratories.

The state also reported 96 COVID-19 deaths, which increased its toll to 48,109.

Of the new cases, 2,227 were confirmed and 791 likely. Of the older cases, 237 were confirmed and 147 probable.

The state’s total case is now 2 812 899 – 2 418 286 confirmed and 394 613 probably.

There were 2,866 COVID-19 patients in Texas hospitals, including 561 in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. On Thursday, 3.4% 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 5.7% on Thursday. For antigen tests, the positivity rate for the same period was 2.3%. 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, 8,817,293 people in Texas received at least one dose of coronavirus vaccine, while 5,257,984 – 23.5% of the population aged 16 and older – were completely vaccinated.

The state said Friday it will receive fewer doses next week due to a decline in supply of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine due to production issues at a plant in Baltimore.

Tarrant county

Tarrant County reported 11 deaths and 208 cases on Friday.

The victims were mostly in their 60s or older. Eight were men and three women, and all but one had underlying high-risk health conditions.

Four of the victims were residents of Fort Worth, two were from Bedford and one each lives in Benbrook, Colleyville, Grapevine, Haltom City and Keller.

Of the new cases, 137 were confirmed and 71 likely. That number brings the province’s case to 252,669 – 212,998 confirmed and 39,671 likely. The death toll is 3,351.

According to the province, 152 people were admitted to hospital with the virus.

According to the state, 511,492 people in Tarrant County received at least one dose of coronavirus vaccine, while 353,841 – 21.9% of the population aged 16 and older – were fully vaccinated.

Health officials in Tarrant County said Friday that everyone on the province’s vaccine waiting list has been given an appointment and that people who register now should be contacted within two days with an appointment.

Collin county

The state added two deaths and 64 cases to the Collin County total on Friday.

No details about the latest victims were available.

Of the new cases, 38 were confirmed and 26 likely. That number brings the province’s case to 87,486 – 72,500 confirmed and 14,986 likely. The death toll is 804.

According to the province, 92 people were admitted to hospital with the virus.

According to the state, 346,290 people in Collin County received at least one dose of coronavirus vaccine, while 209,242 – 26.1% of the province’s population 16 and older – were fully vaccinated.

Denton county

Denton County reported 87 cases Friday. No additional deaths were reported.

The newly reported cases bring the province’s case to 72 583 – 53 763 confirmed and 18 820 probable. The death toll is 476.

According to the province, 38 people were admitted to hospital with the virus.

According to the state, 240,885 people in Denton County received at least one dose of coronavirus vaccine, while 164,885 – 23.6% of the county 16 and older – were fully vaccinated.

Other provinces

The Texas Department of Health Services 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: 11,200 cases (9,128 confirmed and 2072 likely), 151 deaths.
• Kaufman County: 15,586 cases (13,111 confirmed and 2,475 likely), 247 deaths.
• Ellis County: 22,237 cases (18,644 confirmed and 3,593 probable), 309 deaths.
• Johnson County: 19,424 cases (16,595 confirmed and 2,829 probable), 361 deaths.