Dallas County has added another 1,243 new confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19, along with another 15 deaths attributed to the virus. Meanwhile, provincial officials are warning against projections that predict 1,500 people with the virus in the county could be hospitalized by Jan. 5, leading to ‘less than optimal care’ in Dallas County hospitals.
Of the cases reported on Monday, the province said 1,142 were confirmed cases and 101 probable cases (antigen test), bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the country of March to 167,900 and the number of probable (antigen test) ) cases at 20,223. The total number of confirmed and probable cases in the province is now at 188,123. Over the past seven days, Dallas County officials have confirmed 13,583 confirmed and probable cases of the virus.
“Today we are adding 1,243 cases and announcing another 15 deaths in the fight against COVID. We started the day with 27 available ICU rooms in all of Dallas County hospitals,” said Dallas judge Clay Jenkins in ‘ a statement said. “UT Southwestern projects that our hospital numbers will be somewhere between our current level and 1,500 COVID cases in hospitals on January 5. If we reach the highest point of this number, we will be walking through ICU beds and forced to have fewer as the best care. “
The 15 youngest victims include a man in his 40s from Garland who died in hospice care; a man in his 50s from Garland who was a resident of a long-term care facility; a woman in her 50s from Dallas; a woman in her 60s from Dallas who was a resident of a long-term care facility; a man in his 60s from Dallas; a woman in her 70s from Dallas who died in hospice care; a woman in her 70s from Dallas; a man in his 80s from Dallas who died in hospice care; a man in his 60s from Lancaster; a man in his 60s from Farmers Branch; a man in his 70s from Irving; a man in his 70s from Mesquite; a woman in her 70s from Mesquite; a man in his 70s from Rowlett; a woman in her 80s from DeSoto. All the patients were admitted to the hospital and all but one, a man in his 70s from Mesquite, had underlying health conditions.
Provincial officials said Monday there are 1,580 deaths in the country attributed to the virus. In the summer, dr. Philip Huang, director of health and human services in Dallas, said COVID-19 is the third leading cause of death in the country behind heart disease and cancer.
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The province said the preliminary average of 7 days for newly confirmed and probable cases by the date of a test collection for CDC week 50 was 1,722, representing a rate of 65.3 daily new cases per 100,000 residents.
In the past 30 days, 4,955 COVID-19 cases have been reported in school-going children and staff from more than 764 separate K-12 schools in Dallas County, including 692 staff members. Since the onset of the pandemic, 21 school nurses have been diagnosed with COVID-19.
Jenkins issued a warning to those planning traditional gatherings on New Year’s Eve, urging them to reconsider their plans and take precautions against the spread of the virus.
“To help your health care heroes, please make smart decisions and follow the advice of doctors this New Year’s season. Wear your mask when living with people you do not live with, and avoid crowds and gatherings. We must all think of ways to celebrate the new year that is safe, not only for us, but also for those who will necessarily catch the virus from the people who catch it in the new year, ‘Jenkins said. “It may not be you, but your grandmother or someone otherwise’s grandmother who pays a heavy toll for your decision to hold a traditional New Year’s party. Please help make the small sacrifice of patriotism to keep our community and our country strong until everyone who wants the vaccine can get it and it can get the chance to protect it from the virus. ‘