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Dallas County reports 4 coronavirus deaths, 107 new cases as threat level is lowered to yellow

Texas and other states with lower COVID-19 vaccination rates have infection rates above the national average, whereas states with higher vaccination rates tend to have fewer cases, according to a new analysis of CDC data.

The Washington Post’s analysis of the data came as Dallas County reported four more COVID-19 deaths and 107 new coronavirus cases Monday.

The latest victims were two Dallas residents, a man in his 50s and a man in his 80s, a Garland woman in her 60s and a Rowlett man in his 80s. All four had underlying high-risk health conditions.

On Monday, the county lowered its COVID-19 threat level to yellow for people who are not vaccinated. The new threat level means unvaccinated people can safely increase activities such as eating in restaurants and travel.

County Judge Clay Jenkins said people who have been vaccinated can follow Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance that it’s OK to resume most activities without wearing masks or physically distancing.

Although the decision to lower the level was made after reviewing COVID-19 metrics, Dr. Philip Huang, the county’s health director, said there is slowing demand for vaccines.

“There’s still a lot of people who haven’t received the vaccine, and they need to not let up,” he said. “Our ability to get to that herd immunity and really get totally back to normal is dependent on everyone continuing to increase our vaccination rates and continue to keep slowing down transmission.”

The Post reported that a link between vaccination and infection rates has recently become apparent. That connection did not seem predictive earlier this month, according to the Post, but immunization rates have diverged.

According to the state, 1,209,155 people in Dallas County have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, while 980,253 — 44.9% of the county’s population 12 and older — are fully vaccinated.

The number of vaccine doses administered each week has been on a steady decline for two months, in Dallas County and statewide, according to data from the Texas Department of State Health Services.

About 38,000 doses were given last week to Dallas County residents — the fewest for any week this year, excluding the week of the extreme winter storm in February. Across Texas, there were 406,000 doses administered last week, down from a high of nearly 1.9 million in early April.

Local health experts estimate Dallas County will reach herd immunity when at least 80% of residents have been vaccinated or have recovered from COVID-19. The Parkland Center for Clinical Innovation predicted in March that the county would reach herd immunity by mid-June.

But with Dallas County’s slowing vaccine demand, it may not reach herd immunity until July, according to Parkland Center CEO Steve Miff.

Of the county’s new cases, 102 were confirmed and five were probable. The numbers bring the county’s overall case total to 304,714, including 261,709 confirmed and 43,005 probable. The death toll is 4,096.

Dallas County no longer reports new coronavirus data on Sundays and instead reports two-day totals on Mondays.

The average number of new daily cases in the county for the last two weeks is 107. For the previous 14-day period, the average was 92.

In the 24-hour period that ended Sunday, 86 COVID-19 patients were in acute care in hospitals in the county.

Texas

Across the state, 376 more cases were reported Monday, including 369 new cases and seven older ones recently reported by labs.

The state also reported one COVID-19 death, raising its toll to 50,858. The state’s reporting of new cases and deaths lags behind that of some individual counties.

Of the new cases, 278 were confirmed and 91 were probable. Of the older cases, six were confirmed and one was probable.

The state’s case total is now 2,967,730, including 2,531,194 confirmed and 436,536 probable.

There are 1,599 COVID-19 patients in Texas hospitals, including 315 in the Dallas-Fort Worth area — both numbers that have stayed roughly stable throughout June.

According to the state, 13,271,737 people in Texas have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, while 11,003,564 — 45.7% of the state’s population 12 and older — are fully vaccinated.

Tarrant County

Tarrant County reported 58 cases Monday. No additional deaths were reported.

Of the new cases, 47 were confirmed and 11 were probable. The numbers bring the county’s case total to 261,912, including 219,042 confirmed and 42,870 probable. The death toll is 3,543.

According to the county, 100 people are hospitalized with the virus.

According to the state, 903,229 people in Tarrant County have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, while 769,383 — 44.2% of the county’s population 12 and older — are fully vaccinated.

Collin County

The state added 111 cases to Collin County’s totals Monday.

Of the new cases, 42 were confirmed and 69 were probable. The numbers bring the county’s case total to 92,352, including 75,598 confirmed and 16,754 probable. The death toll is 838.

According to the county, 49 people are hospitalized with the virus.

According to the state, 560,060 people in Collin County have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, while 477,200 — 55.2% of the county’s population 12 and older — are fully vaccinated.

Denton County

Denton County reported 74 cases Monday. No additional deaths were reported.

The newly reported cases bring the county’s case total to 76,553, including 56,108 confirmed and 20,445 probable. The death toll is 604.

According to the county, 20 people are hospitalized with the virus.

According to the state, 436,867 people in Denton County have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, while 369,645 — 49.3% of the county’s population 12 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: 11,748 cases (9,407 confirmed and 2,341 probable), 157 deaths.
  • Kaufman County: 16,375 cases (13,562 confirmed and 2,813 probable), 263 deaths.
  • Ellis County: 23,164 cases (19,129 confirmed and 4,035 probable), 322 deaths.
  • Johnson County: 20,042 cases (16,948 confirmed and 3,094 probable), 374 deaths.

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