Irving COVID-19 cases top 27,000, plus other coronavirus updates

Cases of COVID-19 climbed to 27,167 in Irving, making it among the hardest-hit cities in Dallas County.

In total, 192 Irving residents have died from this virus.

Newly reported cases bring the county’s total 289,198, including 251,214 confirmed and 37,984 probable probable. The death toll is 3,434.

Starting Wed., March 10, Dallas County residents and all other Texans will no longer be required to wear a face mask in public. Businesses can also open at full capacity, as part of the new order from Gov. Greg Abbott.

Irving said it will continue to ask visitors to city facilities to wear masks.

County Judge Clay Jenkins said in a written statement that because the city’s Public Health Committee moved the COVID-19 risk level from red to orange for Dallas County, more activities such as haircuts are considered safe as long as appropriate precautions are taken.

“To keep the metrics trending in the right direction, we must continue to do the things that have proven to keep us safe: wear your mask when around people outside your home, wash your hands, maintain six-foot distance, and avoid unnecessary crowds,” Jenkins said.

Health officials use hospitalizations, intensive-care admissions and emergency room visits as key metrics to track the real-time impact of COVID-19 in the county. In the 24-hour period that ended Tuesday, 190 COVID-19 patients were in acute care in hospitals in the county. During the same period, 352 emergency room visits were for symptoms of the disease.

According to the state, 530,688 people in Dallas County have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, while 271,572 — 13.5% of the county’s population 16 and older — are fully vaccinated.

Vaccines

The state opened a vaccine hub to serve residents of Irving and Grand Prairie at The Theatre at Grand Prairie, 1001 Performance Place.

Statewide data

Across the state, 4,344 more cases were reported Wednesday, including 3,658 new cases and 686 older ones recently reported by labs.

The state also reported 178 COVID-19 deaths, raising its toll to 46,736.

Of the new cases, 2,758 were confirmed and 900 were probable. Of the older cases, 527 were confirmed and 159 were probable.

The state’s case total is now 2,756,632, including 2,374,938 confirmed and 381,694 probable.

There are 3,461 COVID-19 patients in Texas hospitals, including 716 in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. On Tuesday, 4.42% 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 6.04% as of Tuesday. For antigen tests, the positivity rate for the same period was 3.59%. 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 has said a positivity rate above 10% is cause for concern.

Dallas County’s case counts for Irving are updated Tuesday and Friday.

Schools

Since Aug. 10, when staff reported to work, Irving ISD has reported 770 cases of COVID-19 among staff and 774 among students. Of those, 31 are active and the rest have recovered.

Businesses

The city of Irving expanded a program aimed at helping small businesses that have suffered financially from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Independently owned franchises are now eligible to apply, as well as sole proprietors and home-based business owners. Businesses can receive up to $50,000 in forgivable loans.

Testing

A walk-up COVID-19 testing site is now open.

Parkland Health & Hospital System has partnered with Dallas County Health and Human Services and the city of Dallas to open the site at Parkland’s Irving Health Center, 1800 N. Britain Road.

Hours for the new site will be 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, or until the site reaches capacity each day. Reservations are not required, and results are expected within 48 to 72 hours.

Patients must live in Dallas County and show verification of address, such as a utility bill or government-issued ID.

First responders, DART drivers and healthcare workers can receive a test regardless of where they live if they work in Dallas County. They must provide a valid work ID.

Test recipients must be at least 5 years old.