Texas reports more than 2,300 new COVID-19 cases as Tarrant County adds 22 deaths

Across the state, 2,628 more coronavirus cases were reported Sunday, including 2,347 new cases and 281 older ones that were recently reported by labs.

The state also added 69 COVID-19 deaths, raising its toll to 45,543.

That state’s death toll is the third highest in the country, trailing California’s and New York’s, according to data from Johns Hopkins University

The seven-day rolling averages of new cases and deaths in Texas have declined during the last two weeks as of Saturday, according to the Johns Hopkins data.

The average number of new cases dropped from 7,964 daily on Feb. 25 to 4,648 on March 11, while the average number of deaths fell from 220.6 to 168.9 per day during the same period.

Of the new cases, 2,004 were confirmed and 343 were probable. Of the older cases, 280 were confirmed and one was probable.

The state’s case total is now 2,718,383, including 2,345,024 confirmed and 373,359 probable.

There are 4,093 COVID-19 patients in Texas hospitals, including 858 in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. On Saturday, 5.31% of patients in the hospital region covering the Dallas-Fort Worth area were COVID-19 patients — below the 15% threshold the state has used to define high hospitalizations.

The seven-day average positivity rate statewide for molecular tests, based on the date of test specimen collection, was 6.1% as of Saturday. For antigen tests, the positivity rate for the same period was 2.3%. A molecular test, sometimes called a PCR test, is considered more accurate; an antigen test is also called a rapid test. Gov. Greg Abbott has said a positivity rate above 10% is cause for concern.

According to the state, 5,371,479 people in Texas have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, while 2,832,158 — 12.6% of the state’s population 16 and older — are fully vaccinated.

Dallas County

Dallas County officials no longer report new coronavirus data on Sundays. Figures that previously would have been reported Sundays will be released Mondays.

As of Saturday, the county’s overall case total was 286,351 — 249,246 confirmed and 37,105 probable. The death toll is 3,299.

According to the state’s data, 445,979 people in Dallas County have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, while 239,314 — 11.9% of the county’s population 16 and older — are fully immunized.

Tarrant County

Tarrant County reported 22 deaths and 212 cases Sunday.

The latest victims include 11 women and 11 men who were in their 30s and older.

Eleven victims were from Fort Worth, five from Arlington, one each from Forest Hill, Grand Prairie, Grapevine, Southlake, Watauga and an unincorporated part of Tarrant County. All but one had underlying health conditions.

Of the new cases, 187 were confirmed and 25 were probable. The numbers bring the county’s case total to 247,348, including 209,498 confirmed and 37,850 probable. The death toll is 3,119.

According to the county, 273 people were hospitalized with the virus as of Friday.

According to the state, 328,600 people in Tarrant County have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, while 194,693 — 12.2% of the county’s population 16 and older — are fully vaccinated.

Collin County

The state added 39 cases and one new death to Collin County’s totals Sunday.

No details about the latest victim were available.

Of the new cases, 34 were confirmed and five were probable. The numbers bring the county’s case total to 84,964, including 71,022 confirmed and 13,942 probable. The death toll is 764.

According to the county, 184 people are hospitalized with the virus.

According to the state, 204,271 people in Collin County have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, while 114,897 — 14.3% of the county’s population 16 and older — are fully vaccinated.

Denton County

Denton County officials no longer report new coronavirus data on Sundays.

As of Saturday, the county had reported 69,698 cases, including 51,867 confirmed and 17,831 probable. The death toll stood at 431.

According to the state, 142,356 people in Denton County have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, while 92,004 — 13.1% of the county’s population 16 and older — are fully vaccinated.

Other counties

The Texas Department of State Health Services 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: 10,836 cases (8,897 confirmed and 1,939 probable), 141 deaths.
• Kaufman County: 15,196 cases (12,863 confirmed and 2,333 probable), 231 deaths.
• Ellis County: 21,541 cases (18,225 confirmed and 3,316 probable), 296 deaths.
• Johnson County: 18,920 cases (16,262 confirmed and 2,658 probable), 343 deaths.