COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations increase in North Texas

Coronavirus cases and hospitalizations continue to rise in Dallas-Fort Worth and the state – with some measures reaching levels not seen since the winter.

Dallas County reported 406 new cases of COVID-19 on Monday. Tarrant County reported 966 on Saturday. The two numbers were the largest one-day totals in the counties since February.

Dallas County has averaged 213 new cases per day over the past two weeks, more than double the 97 it had on average over the previous two weeks.

The state reported 22,870 cases in the past week, nearly double the 12,745 cases reported the week before.

“This indicates that the virus is not under control,” said Dr Catherine Troisi, infectious disease epidemiologist at the UTHealth School of Public Health. “We may be looking at a fourth wave, and it is preventable.”

North Texas coronavirus hospitalizations this fall could exceed summer 2020 levels if current behavior and vaccination pace continues, according to a forecast model released last week by UT Southwestern Medical Center.

The University of Texas COVID-19 Modeling Consortium also predicts that daily COVID-19 hospitalizations in North Texas will exceed last summer’s levels, with a median projection of 3,274 hospitalizations on August 13. On the same day last summer, 1,200 hospitalizations were reported. .

As of Monday, 236 people were hospitalized with COVID-19 in Dallas County, according to the North Central Texas Trauma Regional Advisory Council. In the North Texas region, there are 813 hospitalizations and 3,046 statewide. All three are at their highest level since March.

But as infections and hospitalizations have increased, Dallas County – along with the rest of the state – has seen demand for vaccines continue to slow. Last week, approximately 25,000 doses were given to residents of Dallas County, the fewest since the first week of the year.

The county’s mass vaccination site at Fair Park closed on Saturday after traffic declined in recent months.

At a White House press briefing on Friday, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention director Dr Rochelle Walensky said the message sent by the increase in cases, deaths and hospitalizations was clear.

“It’s becoming an unvaccinated pandemic,” Walensky said.

While there are “groundbreaking” cases in people who have been vaccinated, such as several Texas Democrats in Washington, DC, the majority of new cases are in people who are not.

In the week ending July 10, 82% of cases diagnosed among Dallas County residents were in people not fully vaccinated, according to the county.

Health officials say people can help lower the numbers by getting vaccinated and taking the same preventative measures they have used throughout the pandemic, including wearing masks, social distancing and washing regular hands.

“I think the most important thing is that we, as individuals, have full control over determining the height of this wave and its duration,” said Dr Mujeeb Basit, associate director of the center. clinical informatics from UTSW.

Dallas County

Over the past week, Dallas County reported 13 more deaths from COVID-19 and 1,764 new cases of the coronavirus.

Of these cases, 1,365 were confirmed and 399 were probable. The figures bring the county’s total cases to 309,851, of which 265,548 are confirmed and 44,303 probable. The death toll is 4,161.

The county also recorded 1,338 “revolutionary” cases in fully vaccinated people on Monday.

As of Monday, 1,301,993 people in Dallas County received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, while 1,115,162 – 51.1% of the county’s population aged 12 and older – are fully vaccinated.

Texas

Of the 22,780 cases reported in the past week, 17,060 were confirmed cases and 5,720 were probable cases.

The state also reported 162 deaths from COVID-19 in the past week, bringing its toll to 51,652.

The state’s total cases are now 3,030,342, of which 2,577,197 are confirmed and 453,145 probable.

According to the state, 14,330,172 people in Texas have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, while 12,390,267 – 51.5% of the state’s population aged 12 and older – are fully vaccinated.

Tarrant County

Tarrant County has reported nine deaths and 2,935 cases in the past week.

Of the new cases, 2,190 were confirmed and 745 were probable.

The figures bring the county’s total cases to 267,435, with 223,071 confirmed and 44,364 probable. The death toll is 3,607.

The county reported that 278 people had been hospitalized with the virus.

According to the state, 969,668 people in Tarrant County have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, while 859,529 – 49.4% of the county’s population aged 12 and older – are fully vaccinated.

Collin County

The state added one death and 444 cases to the Collin County totals over the past week.

Of the new cases, 227 were confirmed and 217 were probable. The figures bring the county’s total number of cases to 94,142, including 76,703 confirmed and 17,439 probable. The death toll is 855.

The county reported that 125 people had been hospitalized with the virus.

According to the state, 594,987 people in Collin County have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, while 528,925 – 61.1 %% of the county’s population aged 12 and over – are fully vaccinated.

Denton County

Denton County has reported four deaths and 546 cases in the past week.

The newly reported cases bring the county’s total cases to 78,102, including 57,089 confirmed and 21,013 probable. The death toll is 628.

The county reported 36 people had been hospitalized with the virus.

According to the state, 464,165 people in Denton County have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, while 413,310 – 55.1% of the county’s population aged 12 and older – are fully vaccinated.

Other counties

The Texas Department of State Health Services took over the reports for these other North Texas counties. The latest numbers are:

• Rockwall County: 12,123 cases (9,593 confirmed and 2,530 probable), 159 deaths.
• Kaufman County: 16,726 cases (13,775 confirmed and 2,951 probable), 268 deaths.
• Ellis County: 23,270 cases (19,062 confirmed and 4,208 probable), 325 deaths.
• Johnson County: 20,348 cases (17,152 confirmed and 3,196 probable), 380 deaths.