Dallas County added another 1,129 new confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday, along with 16 more deaths attributed to the virus. Meanwhile, county officials warn that hospitalizations for COVID-19 are at an all-time high in the county, while ICU availability is low.
County health officials said 1,018 COVID-19 patients in acute care at Dallas County hospitals by Monday.
“Our number of hospitals is at an all-time high, and the availability of intensive care beds in the region is at a minimum,” Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins said Tuesday. “Currently, one in four people hospitalized in Dallas County has COVID-19 and about 30% of those hospitalized in the region have COVID-19.”
Jenkins added that the new record, “does not come as a surprise based on modeling. Although these large numbers are predictable, they can be prevented. Changing individual behavior and precautions can slow growth. Hospitals are our last line of defense. And they remain. without beds to take care of our sickest patients. “
In Dallas County, only 16 ICU beds remain. Across the region, Dallas Fort Worth Hospital Council reported only 58 in all 19 counties.
President and CEO Stephen Love said many hospitals have already adopted growth plans by opening additional COVID units.
He said that others have the ability to increase the space once the capacity is fulfilled by restoring the surgical and recovery spaces.
He said the biggest problem will be the number of doctors and nurses available to care for the growth of patients.
“The state did everything it could to help us. But with this high volume, the staff will be a real problem. ”
“The state has done everything it can to help us. But with this high volume, the staff will be a real problem,” Love said. “Our staff, those clinical heroes in the field of health, participated this March. They are tired. They are tired. They are worn. So, the more volume you have, the more you will continue to strain the current workforce. ”
Both he and Jenkins urged people to stay home on New Year’s Eve, avoiding gatherings with anyone outside their household.
“Don’t let your guard down. Please work together. And next year, we can have great holidays for the holidays, “said Love.
Of the cases reported Monday, the county said 882 were confirmed cases and 247 were probable cases (antigen test), bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the county in March to 168,782 and the number of probable cases (antigen test) to 20,470. The total number of confirmed and probable cases in the county is now at 189,252. In the last seven days, Dallas County officials have confirmed 12,346 confirmed and probable cases of the virus.
The last 16 victims include an 18-year-old man and a 60-year-old woman, both from Garland; a 50-year-old woman from Mesquite; a 70-year-old man from Richardson; a 70-year-old man from Hutchins; a 60-year-old man from Carrollton; 10 people from Dallas whose ages ranged from 30 to 80 years. All of the victims, except the Garland woman and an 80-year-old woman from Dallas, had basic health risks, including the teenager.
County officials said Tuesday that there were 1,596 deaths in the county attributed to the virus. In the summer, Dr. Philip Huang, director of health and human services in Dallas County, said COVID-19 is the third leading cause of death in the county, behind heart disease and cancer.
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The county said the 7-day provisional average for new confirmed and probable cases up to the date of CDC’s 50th week test collection was 1,722, a rate of 65.3 new daily cases per 100,000 residents.
In the past 30 days, there have been 5,971 cases of COVID-19 in school-age children and reported staff from more than 756 separate K-12 schools in Dallas County, including 569 staff members. Since the beginning of the pandemic, 21 nurses have been diagnosed with COVID-19.
Jenkins on Monday issued a warning to those planning traditional gatherings on New Year’s Eve, urging them to reconsider their plans and take precautions against the spread of the virus.
“To help our health heroes help you, please make smart decisions and follow the doctors’ advice this New Year’s season. we celebrate the New Year which is safe, not only for us, but for those who will inevitably catch the virus from those who contract it this New Year, ”Jenkins said. “Maybe it’s not you, but your grandmother or someone else’s grandmother who pays a heavy fee for your decision to have a traditional New Year’s holiday. Please help make the small sacrifice of patriotism to keep our community and country strong until everyone who wants the vaccine can get it and have the opportunity to protect it from the virus. “