Dallas County reports 9 coronavirus deaths, 181 new cases

Dallas County reported nine more COVID-19 deaths and 181 new coronavirus cases Friday.

Five of the latest victims were Dallas residents: a man in his 40s, a man in his 50s, two women in their 60s and a man in his 80s. The others were a DeSoto man in his 50s, a Duncanville woman in her 80s, a Garland man in his 50s and an Irving man in his 80s.

Eight of the victims were known to have underlying high-risk health conditions.

County Judge Clay Jenkins said in a written statement that the coronavirus remains a serious risk in the community and that residents should get vaccinated as soon as possible.

“Regardless of your personal risk, vaccination is the best way to protect yourself, your vulnerable family and friends, and our community as a whole,” Jenkins said.

Of the new cases, 109 were confirmed and 72 were probable. The numbers bring the county’s overall case total to 297,012, including 256,075 confirmed and 40,937 probable. The death toll is 3,845.

The average number of new daily cases in the county for the last two weeks is 240. For the previous 14-day period, the average was 276.

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 Thursday, 188 COVID-19 patients were in acute care in hospitals in the county. During the same period, 403 ER visits were for symptoms of the disease.

According to the state, 952,826 people in Dallas County have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, while 598,933 — 29.5% of the county’s population 16 and older — are fully vaccinated.

Texas

Across the state, 3,472 more cases were reported Friday, including 3,306 new cases and 166 older ones recently reported by labs.

The state also reported 69 COVID-19 deaths, raising its toll to 48,897.

Of the new cases, 2,547 were confirmed and 759 were probable. Of the older cases, 126 were confirmed and 40 were probable.

The state’s case total is now 2,860,489, including 2,453,803 confirmed and 406,686 probable.

There are 2,862 COVID-19 patients in Texas hospitals, including 504 in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. On Thursday, 3.1% 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 5.9% as of Thursday. For antigen tests, the positivity rate for the same period was 3.6%. 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, 10,462,845 people in Texas have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, while 6,986,227 — 31.2% of the state’s population 16 and older — are fully vaccinated.

Tarrant County

Tarrant County reported one death and 174 cases Friday.

The latest victim was a Fort Worth woman in her 40s who had underlying high-risk health conditions.

Of the new cases, 136 were confirmed and 38 were probable. The numbers bring the county’s case total to 255,483, including 214,940 confirmed and 40,543 probable. The death toll is 3,383.

According to the county, 147 people are hospitalized with the virus.

According to the state, 709,594 people in Tarrant County have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, while 484,402 — 30.0% of the county’s population 16 and older — are fully vaccinated.

Collin County

The state added one death and 125 cases to Collin County’s totals Friday.

No details about the latest victim were available.

Of the new cases, 78 were confirmed and 47 were probable. The numbers bring the county’s case total to 89,051, including 73,528 confirmed and 15,523 probable. The death toll is 813.

According to the county, 75 people are hospitalized with the virus.

According to the state, 448,480 people in Collin County have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, while 293,626 — 36.6% of the county’s population 16 and older — are fully vaccinated.

Denton County

Denton County reported 89 cases Friday. No new deaths were reported.

The newly reported cases bring the county’s case total to 73,793, including 54,458 confirmed and 19,335 probable. The death toll is 482.

According to the county, 25 people are hospitalized with the virus.

According to the state, 349,468 people in Denton County have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, while 250,499 — 35.9% 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: 11,337 cases (9,206 confirmed and 2,131 probable), 152 deaths.
• Kaufman County: 15,768 cases (13,227 confirmed and 2,541 probable), 255 deaths.
• Ellis County: 22,462 cases (18,762 confirmed and 3,700 probable), 310 deaths.
• Johnson County: 19,563 cases (16,685 confirmed and 2,878 probable), 364 deaths.