North Texas breakthrough COVID infections rise, though Dallas County cases overall hold steady

The vast majority of COVID-19 cases in Dallas County are in unvaccinated people, but a small number have been reported among people who have been fully immunized, according to county health data.

As of Tuesday, Dallas County reported a total of 955 such “breakthrough” cases — infections in fully vaccinated people. The county’s overall case total is 307,027 — 263,364 of them confirmed and 43,663 of them probable.

Nationally, nearly all deaths and most hospitalizations are among unvaccinated people. Of 107,000 U.S. COVID-19 hospitalizations in May, fewer than 1,200 were from breakthrough infections, according to an Associated Press analysis.

But concerns about hospitalizations and breakthrough cases are on the rise in North Texas as the prominence of “variants of concern” increases.

Of particular concern is the delta variant, which health experts say is more transmissible and can evade some immunity and cause breakthrough cases. Dallas County has reported 166 variant cases — nine of the delta variant — as of Tuesday. By June 30, Texas had reported 4,982 variant cases, including 120 of the delta variant.

Breakthrough cases shouldn’t be surprising, said Katelyn Jetelina, an assistant professor at the UTHealth School of Public Health in Dallas.

“We expected this,” she said. “So vaccine efficacy is amazingly high, but it’s not 100%.”

From January through June, Texas had 1,319 breakthrough cases, according to data from the Department of State Health Services’ Emerging and Acute Infectious Disease Unit. Reporting by state and county agencies differs, which may explain why the Dallas County figure seems out of proportion with the state’s total.

The State Health Services data is provisional, and starting in June, only breakthrough cases that resulted in hospitalization or fatalities were reported. In June, there were 30 such breakthrough cases.

Although half of Texas’ eligible population is fully vaccinated, the state has seen slowing vaccine demand and an upward trend in hospitalizations. Across Texas, 1,745 people were hospitalized with the virus as of Tuesday, according to the state health agency

In North Texas, 443 people were hospitalized with the virus. Of the counties in the region, Tarrant County had the most, with 174 hospitalizations as of Tuesday

The good news, Jetelina said, is that the available vaccines still offer protection, especially against severe disease.

“The reflection of a rise in hospitalizations isn’t necessarily because we’re having more breakthrough cases,” she said. “It’s because not enough people are vaccinated and so they’re getting infected and they’re getting more severe cases.”

Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins said in a written statement Tuesday that as the delta variant spreads, the best way to protect against coronavirus is to get inoculated.

“Unless we continue to increase vaccination rates across Dallas County and North Texas, we will remain vulnerable as a community to continued COVID spread,” he said.

Dallas County reported two more COVID-19 deaths and 163 new cases Tuesday.

The latest victims were a Carrollton woman in her 70s and a Richardson man in his 50s. Both had underlying high-risk health conditions.

The county no longer reports new coronavirus cases and deaths on weekends and instead reports three-day totals on Tuesdays. Because of the Fourth of July, the numbers reported Tuesday were from Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

Of the new cases, 93 were confirmed and 70 were probable. The death toll is 4,137.

The average number of new daily cases in the county for the last two weeks is 102. For the previous 14-day period, the average was 103.

According to the county, 113 people were hospitalized with the virus.

According to the state, 1,272,038 people in Dallas County have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, while 1,086,122 — 49.8% of the county’s population 12 and older — are fully vaccinated.

Texas

Across the state, 1,002 more cases were reported Tuesday — 882 new cases and 120 older ones recently reported by labs.

The state also reported 10 COVID-19 deaths, raising its toll to 51,359.

Of the new cases, 573 were confirmed and 309 were probable. Of the older cases, 96 were confirmed and 24 were probable.

The state’s case total is now 2,995,819 — 2,551,284 confirmed and 444,535 probable.

According to the state, 13,991,353 people in Texas have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, while 12,055,498 — 50.1% of the population 12 and older — are fully vaccinated.

Tarrant County

Tarrant County reported three deaths and 67 new cases Tuesday.

Details about the latest victims were not immediately available.

Of the new cases, 57 were confirmed and 10 were probable. The numbers bring the county’s case total to 263,757 — 220,263 confirmed and 43,494 probable. The death toll is 3,580.

According to the county, 174 people are hospitalized with the virus.

According to the state, 948,053 people in Tarrant County have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, while 838,694 — 48.2% of the county’s population 12 and older — are fully vaccinated.

Collin County

The state added 110 cases to Collin County’s totals Tuesday. No additional deaths were reported.

Of the new cases, 84 were confirmed and 26 were probable. The numbers bring the county’s case total to 93,283 — 76,220 confirmed and 17,063 probable. The death toll is 850.

According to the county, 64 people are hospitalized with the virus.

According to the state, 583,821 people in Collin County have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, while 517,155 — 59.8% of the county’s population 12 and older — are fully vaccinated.

Denton County

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

The newly reported cases bring the county’s case total to 77,185 — 56,503 confirmed and 20,682 probable. The death toll is 621.

According to the county, 17 people are hospitalized with the virus.

According to the state, 455,487 people in Denton County have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, while 407,210 — 54.3% 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: 11,899 cases (9,492 confirmed and 2,407 probable), 158 deaths.
• Kaufman County: 16,580 cases (13,681 confirmed and 2,899 probable), 266 deaths.
• Ellis County: 23,153 cases (19,017 confirmed and 4,136 probable), 324 deaths.
• Johnson County: 20,216 cases (17,059 confirmed and 3,157 probable), 379 deaths.