Dallas County reports 14 COVID-19 deaths, 4,877 cases from Labor Day weekend

Dallas County reported 14 more COVID-19 deaths and 4,877 new coronavirus cases Wednesday — totals that included counts from over the Labor Day weekend.

Of the new cases from Saturday through Tuesday, 4,213 were confirmed and 664 were probable. The numbers bring the county’s overall case total to 363,512, including 310,272 confirmed and 53,240 probable. The death toll is 4,388.

The latest victims included a Grand Prairie boy in his 10s, a Mesquite man in his 30s and an Irving woman in her 40s, all of whom had underlying health conditions, according to a statement by the county health department.

“We’re already seeing an alarming high case rate among school-age students,” said Dr. Mujeeb Basit, a professor at UT Southwestern Medical Center. “We’re significantly higher in terms of hospitalizations than we were before. … What we’re seeing now is high school and school-age kids getting it before even the 20- and 30-year-olds.”

As of Monday, 132 children were hospitalized with the novel coronavirus in the 19-county area that covers Dallas-Fort Worth — the highest number of the pandemic, according to the DFW Hospital Council.

Cases and hospitalization rates may surge late week and into early next week, following the holiday weekend because of increased travel, holiday gatherings and Labor Day festivities, Basit said. Nationally, the average number of weekly coronavirus cases was nearly 300% higher this Labor Day weekend than last year, according to data from John Hopkins University.

“We are seeing more cases generally in the community than what we saw last Labor Day,” Basit said. “When your community prevalence [of the virus] goes higher, you don’t even need large gatherings. Small gatherings have a higher likelihood of having an [infected] person in it.”

Basit encouraged people to continue wearing masks and get tested at the first onset of symptoms.

Health officials also announced Wednesday that another COVID-19 variant — the mu variant — has reached Dallas County.

In a written statement, Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins said the mu strain is not believed to be more contagious or deadly than the delta variant. But he continued to encourage people get vaccinated.

“It is imperative that those who have not been vaccinated thus far get vaccinated as soon as possible, so that not only will they be protected, but so that those who’ve been vaccinated will not lose their protection further,” he said.

According to the state, 1,506,284 people in Dallas County have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, while 1,258,927 — 57.7% of the county’s population 12 and older — are fully vaccinated.

Texas

The state reported 34,425 more cases Wednesday, including 25,184 confirmed cases and 9,241 probable cases.

The state has reported 286 COVID-19 deaths in the last week, raising its toll to 57,524.

The state’s case total is now 3,733,656, including 3,133,016 confirmed and 600,640 probable.

There are a total of 13,520 hospitalizations in the state, including 3,521 in North Texas.

According to the state, 16,693,375 people in Texas have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, while 14,016,519 — 58.2% of the state’s population 12 and older — are fully vaccinated.

Tarrant County

Tarrant County reported eight deaths and 4,920 cases Wednesday, which included cases reported from Saturday to Tuesday.

Of the new cases, 4,161 were confirmed and 759 were probable. The numbers bring the county’s case total to 315,696, including 263,173 confirmed and 52,523 probable. The death toll is 3,942.

The county reported that 1,188 people were hospitalized with the virus.

According to the state, 1,122,561 people in Tarrant County have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, while 967,959 — 55.7% of the county’s population 12 and older — are fully vaccinated.

Collin County

The state added two deaths and 532 cases to Collin County’s totals.

Of the new cases, 444 were confirmed and 88 were probable. The numbers bring the county’s case total to 115,292, including 94,488 confirmed and 20,804 probable. The death toll is 923.

The county reported that 449 people were hospitalized with the virus.

According to the state, 676,523 people in Collin County have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, while 584,441 — 67.5% of the county’s population 12 and older — are fully vaccinated.

Denton County

Denton County has reported no new deaths and 573 cases in the last week.

The county’s case total is 92,195, including 67,350 confirmed and 24,845 probable. The death toll is 663.

The county reported that 207 people were hospitalized with the virus.

According to the state, 520,776 people in Denton County have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, while 462,158 — 61.6% 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: 15,132 cases (11,899 confirmed and 3,233 probable), 179 deaths.
• Kaufman County: 20,780 cases (16,886 confirmed and 3,894 probable), 321 deaths.
• Ellis County: 28,633 cases (23,067 confirmed and 5,566 probable), 363 deaths.
• Johnson County: 24,119 cases (20,032 confirmed and 4,087 probable), 427 deaths.