Dallas County reports 2 COVID-19 deaths, 139 more cases; Denton County adds 3 deaths

Dallas County reported two more COVID-19 deaths and 139 new coronavirus cases Wednesday.

The latest victims were a Dallas man in his 60s and a Duncanville man in his 50s. Both had underlying high-risk health conditions.The county reported four cases of “variants of concern,” all in people who were not vaccinated. There have been 148 variant cases in Dallas County as of Wednesday.

Health officials are more worried about the increasing prevalence of variants of concern. Dr. James Cutrell, an infectious-disease expert at UT Southwestern, told on Monday that he expects the delta variant to become the dominant variant in North Texas in the next two to four weeks.

“Getting vaccinated is the best way to protect yourself, your family, and your community from this virus, especially as the virus mutates and becomes more contagious,” County Judge Clay Jenkins said in a written statement. “Please don’t delay and get vaccinated today.”

Of the county’s new cases, 80 were confirmed and 59 were probable. The numbers bring the county’s overall case total to 305,740, including 262,445 confirmed and 43,295 probable. The death toll is 4,117.

The average number of new daily cases in the county for the last two weeks is 105. For the previous 14-day period, the average was 95.

According to the state, 1,240,661 people in Dallas County have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, while 1,042,839 — 47.8% of the county’s population 12 and older — are fully vaccinated.

Texas

Across the state, 1,809 more cases were reported Wednesday, including 1,162 new cases and 647 older ones recently reported by labs.

The state also reported 32 COVID-19 deaths, raising its toll to 51,092.

Of the new cases, 870 were confirmed and 292 were probable. Of the older cases, 558 were confirmed and 89 were probable.

The state’s case total is now 2,978,259, including 2,538,908 confirmed and 439,351 probable.

According to the state, 13,649,325 people in Texas have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, while 11,548,447 — 48% of the state’s population 12 and older — are fully vaccinated.

Tarrant County

Tarrant County reported 72 cases Wednesday. No additional deaths were reported.

Of the new cases, 50 were confirmed and 22 were probable. The numbers bring the county’s case total to 262,787, including 219,580 confirmed and 43,207 probable. The death toll is 3,559.

According to the state, 925,124 people in Tarrant County have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, while 805,268 — 46.3% of the county’s population 12 and older — are fully vaccinated.

Collin County

The state added 58 cases to Collin County’s totals Wednesday. No additional deaths were reported.

Of the new cases, 27 were confirmed and 31 were probable. The numbers bring the county’s case total to 92,644, including 75,772 confirmed and 16,872 probable. The death toll is 843.

According to the state, 571,917 people in Collin County have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, while 499,261 — 57.7% of the county’s population 12 and older — are fully vaccinated.

Denton County

Denton County reported three deaths and 29 cases Wednesday.

The latest victims include a Lewisville woman in her 40s, a Carrollton man in his 50s and a man over the age of 80 who lived in unincorporated Denton County.

The newly reported cases bring the county’s case total to 76,834, including 56,289 confirmed and 20,545 probable. The death toll is 615.

According to the state, 446,011 people in Denton County have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, while 387,809 — 51.7% of the county’s population 12 and older — are fully vaccinated. A representative for the Texas Department of State Health Services confirmed the figure for people who had been fully vaccinated, though it was lower than the 387,892 that had been provided Tuesday.

Other counties

The DSHS has taken over reporting for these other North Texas counties. In some counties, new data may not be reported every day.

The latest numbers are:

• Rockwall County: 11,828 cases (9,456 confirmed and 2,372 probable), 158 deaths.
• Kaufman County: 16,488 cases (13,634 confirmed and 2,854 probable), 265 deaths.
• Ellis County: 23,283 cases (19,200 confirmed and 4,083 probable), 323 deaths.
• Johnson County: 20,104 cases (16,979 confirmed and 3,125 probable), 375 deaths.