Dallas County reports 19 coronavirus deaths and 228 cases, reducing threat level to ‘moderate risk’

Updated at 20:18: Revised to reduce Dallas County’s threat level.

As coronavirus hospitalizations in Dallas County have remained at their lowest levels since last spring, Parkland Memorial Hospital closed its COVID-19 intensive care units on Tuesday, lowering the threat level for the first time in more than five months.

About two dozen COVID-19 patients were still being treated in the hospital, but the closure of the units dedicated to the disease was a symbolic milestone in the fight against COVID-19, a little over a year after the pandemic reached North Texas.

On Tuesday, Dallas County reported another 19 COVID-19 deaths and 228 new cases of coronavirus.

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

Seven of the victims were residents of Dallas, three were from Mesquite, two each from Garland and Seagoville, and one each lives in Addison, DeSoto, Grand Prairie, Irving and Lancaster.

District Judge Clay Jenkins said in a written statement that if all Texans 16 and older are eligible to be vaccinated from next week, people must register for vaccinations in as many places as they are willing to go.

“It’s been a tough year, but we’re winning,” Jenkins said. “Let’s focus on all the things we should be thankful for and together we will defeat COVID-19.”

Jenkins said Tuesday night the county’s public health committee had lowered the coronavirus threat level to orange from red, where it had been since mid-October.

In the orange zone, the risk of coronavirus transmission is considered moderate. People in high-risk groups or older than 65 are still urged to avoid personal activities, and precautions such as wearing a mask and social distance should be taken when in public.

A number of activities, such as attending entertainment events and going to movies, are still discouraged and should be considered according to the guidelines of the province only if physical distance is taken. Shopping trips should still be limited, and it is preferable to get meals en route over restaurants.

Of the new cases, 151 were confirmed and 77 likely. The numbers bring the total case of the province to 288,928, including 251,039 confirmed and 37,889 likely. The death toll is 3,413.

Officials said two of the new cases were the first cases in Dallas County of the B.1.429 coronavirus strain, a more contagious variant that emerged in California. There were 14 cases of the B.1.1.7, or UK, variant, and one case of the B.1.526, or New York, variant.

Health officials use hospitalizations, admissions for intensive care 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 Monday, 193 COVID-19 patients were in acute care in hospitals across the country. During the same period, 287 ER visits were for symptoms of the disease.

According to the state, 527,164 people in Dallas County received at least one dose of coronavirus vaccine, while 269,105 – 13.4% of the province’s population aged 16 and older – were fully vaccinated.

Texas

Across the state, 4,595 more cases were reported Tuesday, including 4,269 new cases and 326 older cases recently reported by laboratories.

The state also reported 80 COVID-19 deaths, which increased its toll to 46,558.

Of the new cases, 3,205 were confirmed and 1,064 likely. Of the older cases, 226 were confirmed and 100 likely.

The case of the state is now 2,752,288, including 2,371,653 confirmed and 380,635 likely.

There are 3,498 COVID-19 patients in Texas hospitals, including 714 in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. On Monday, 4.6% 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 sample collection, was 5.9% as of Monday. For antigen tests, the positivity rate for the same period was 3.2%. 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 percentage of more than 10% is cause for concern.

According to the state, 6,407,978 people in Texas received at least one dose of coronavirus vaccine, while 3,215,549 – 14.3% of the population aged 16 and over – were fully vaccinated.

Tarrant county

Tarrant County reported four deaths and 268 cases on Tuesday.

The most recent victims were three Fort Worth men in their 40s, 70s and 80s, and a White Settlement man in his 70s. Three of the four had underlying high-risk health conditions.

Of the new cases, 186 were confirmed and 82 likely. That number brings the province’s case to 249,418, including 210,883 confirmed and 38,535 likely. The death toll is 3,226.

According to the province, 218 people with the virus are being admitted to hospital.

According to the state, 395,739 people in Tarrant County received at least one dose of coronavirus vaccine, while 197,660 – 12.4% of the population aged 16 and older – were fully vaccinated.

The Texas Department of Health Services did not provide an explanation as to why the number of fully vaccinated residents was about 16,000 lower than it reported Monday. A similar, but much smaller, discrepancy last week was caused by providing data incorrectly, DSHS said.

Collin county

The state added two deaths and 183 cases to the Collin County total on Tuesday.

No details about the latest victims were available.

Of the new cases, 40 have been confirmed and 143 likely. That number brings the country’s case to 85,885, including 71,565 confirmed and 14,320 likely. The death toll is 784.

According to the province, 148 people with the virus are being admitted to hospital.

According to the state, 251,017 people in Collin County received at least one dose of coronavirus vaccine, while 129,357 – 16.0% of the province’s population 16 and older – were completely vaccinated.

Denton county

Denton County reported 129 cases Tuesday. No additional deaths were reported.

The newly reported cases bring the province’s case to 71,200, including 52,914 confirmed and 18,286 likely. The death toll is 453.

According to the province, 51 people with the virus are being admitted to hospital.

According to the state, 176,322 people in Denton County received at least one dose of coronavirus vaccine, while 101,418 – 14.4% of the population aged 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: 10,969 cases (8,977 confirmed and 1,992 probable), 145 deaths.
• Kaufman County: 15,363 cases (12,962 confirmed and 2,401 probable), 233 deaths.
• Ellis County: 21,691 cases (18,337 confirmed and 3,354 likely), 300 deaths.
• Johnson County: 19,123 cases (16,390 confirmed and 2,733 likely), 353 deaths.