500,000 cases reported in Dallas County, free N95 masks: The top COVID-19 stories on Thursday

Dallas County surpassed 500,000 COVID-19 cases Wednesday, marking another bleak milestone of the pandemic.

Across the state, 12,905 Texas were hospitalized with the virus, including more than 4,000 in North Texas. Both numbers are on the verge of previous record highs.

Here’s what you need to know about COVID-19 today:

The county’s milestone comes after nearly two years of disruptions and resilience during the pandemic.

The number is significantly down from the 10,000 daily infections projected in the previous UT Southwestern Medical Center forecast.

The White House said Wednesday that the masks will be available for pickup at pharmacies and community health centers across the country.

The center’s managing director said he anticipates there could be more cases in the company so they’re taking this extra precaution, which is beyond those mandated by the national actors union.

The CDC says that N95s offer the most protection, while thin cloth masks offer the least protection. Here’s how to improve the fit and protection of your mask.