Dallas County reports 12 coronavirus deaths, 509 cases; Tarrant County adds 8 deaths

Dallas County reported 12 more COVID-19 deaths and 509 new coronavirus cases Monday as the state opened vaccinations to anyone 16 and older.

The state’s health agency launched a centralized waitlist at getthevaccine.dshs.texas.gov that allows Texans to register with a number of vaccination providers across the state.

Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins urged residents to register with multiple counties if possible.

“We all have a role to play and your role is to get registered to be vaccinated, get vaccinated as soon as your name is called, and keep making the smart decisions that will keep us safe until we can reach herd immunity,” Jenkins said in a written statement.

The latest Dallas County victims were mostly in their 60s or older. Seven were men and five were women, and all but one had underlying high-risk health conditions.

Seven of the victims were Dallas residents, and one each lived in Balch Springs, Cedar Hill, Duncanville, Garland and Mesquite.

Of the new cases, 288 were confirmed and 221 were probable. The numbers bring the county’s overall case total to 290,617, including 251,790 confirmed and 38,827 probable. The death toll is 3,497.

Dallas County no longer reports case data on Sundays and reports two-day totals on Mondays.

The average number of new daily cases in the county for the past two weeks is 264. For the previous 14-day period, the average was 412.

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. Because of a lag in weekend reporting, these numbers will next be available Tuesday.

According to the state, 596,320 people in Dallas County have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, while 319,601 — 15.8% of the county’s population 16 and older — are fully vaccinated.

Texas

Across the state, 3,589 more cases were reported Monday, including 2,220 new cases and 1,369 older ones recently reported by labs.

The state also reported 13 COVID-19 deaths, raising its toll to 47,169. The state’s reporting of deaths lags the reporting by some counties.

Of the new cases, 1,881 were confirmed and 339 were probable. Of the older cases, 457 were confirmed and 912 were probable.

The state’s case total is now 2,775,669, including 2,388,650 confirmed and 387,019 probable.

There are 3,146 COVID-19 patients in Texas hospitals, including 568 in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. On Sunday, 3.6% 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 5.0% as of Sunday. For antigen tests, the positivity rate for the same period was 2.3%. 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.

According to the state, 7,156,895 people in Texas have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, while 3,756,432 — 16.8% of the state’s population 16 and older — are fully vaccinated.

The Texas Department of State Health Services has launched a centralized vaccine sign-up form called the Texas Public Health Vaccine Scheduler as the state opened vaccine registration to people 16 and older Monday.

The form allows Texas residents to register for the vaccine through multiple health departments throughout the state, including in Garland and Parker County in North Texas.

Those who sign up will be matched with a vaccine appointment in their own county within a day, the state said. Anyone who may need help signing up may call 1-833-832-7067.

The scheduler will not replace all vaccine registrations in the state. Many pharmacies and local health departments will continue to operate their own vaccinations.

Tarrant County

Tarrant County reported eight deaths and 235 cases Monday.

Four of the latest victims were Fort Worth residents, two men in their 50s, a man in his 60s and a woman in her 70s; three were Arlington men, in their 40s, 60s and 80s; and one was an Azle woman in her 70s. All but one had underlying high-risk health conditions.

Of the new cases, 167 were confirmed and 68 were probable. The numbers bring the county’s case total to 250,493, including 211,605 confirmed and 38,888 probable. The death toll is 3,277.

According to the county, 159 people are hospitalized with the virus.

According to the state, 425,018 people in Tarrant County have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, while 242,439 — 15.0% of the county’s population 16 and older — are fully vaccinated.

Collin County

The state added 197 cases to Collin County’s totals Monday. No new deaths were reported.

Of the new cases, 103 were confirmed and 94 were probable. The numbers bring the county’s case total to 86,358, including 71,806 confirmed and 14,552 probable. The death toll is 791.

According to the county, 112 people are hospitalized with the virus.

According to the state, 284,291 people in Collin County have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, while 147,978 — 18.5% of the county’s population 16 and older — are fully vaccinated.

Denton County

Denton County reported 181 cases Monday. No new deaths were reported.

The newly reported cases bring the county’s case total to 71,665, including 53,209 confirmed and 18,456 probable. The death toll is 462.

According to the county, 43 people are hospitalized with the virus.

According to the state, 203,879 people in Denton County have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, while 115,717 — 16.6% 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: 11,035 cases (9,021 confirmed and 2,014 probable), 149 deaths.
• Kaufman County: 15,432 cases (13,004 confirmed and 2,428 probable), 239 deaths.
• Ellis County: 22,043 cases (18,528 confirmed and 3,515 probable), 306 deaths.
• Johnson County: 19,220 cases (16,460 confirmed and 2,760 probable), 357 deaths.