Dallas County added another 1,243 confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 on Monday, along with 15 more deaths attributed to the virus. Meanwhile, county officials warn of projections that 1,500 people could be hospitalized with the virus in the county by Jan. 5 and could lead to “less optimal care” in Dallas County hospitals.
Of the cases reported on Monday, the county said 1,142 were confirmed cases and 101 were probable cases (antigen test), bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the county in March to 167,900, and the number of probable cases (antigen test) to 20,223. The total number of confirmed and probable cases in the county is now at 188,123. In the last seven days, Dallas County officials have confirmed 13,583 confirmed and probable cases of the virus.
“Today we are adding 1,243 cases and announcing another 15 deaths in the fight against COVID. We started the day with 27 ICU rooms available in all Dallas County hospitals,” Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins said in a statement. “UT Southwestern projects that the number of our hospitals will be somewhere between our current level and 1,500 cases of COVID in hospitals on January 5th. If we reach the highest end of this number, we will run through the ICU beds and be forced to have less than optimal care. “
The most recent 15 victims include a 40-year-old man from Garland who died in care; a 50-year-old man from Garland who was a resident of a long-term care facility; a 50-year-old woman from Dallas; a 60-year-old woman from Dallas who lived in a long-term care facility; a 60-year-old man from Dallas; a 70-year-old woman from Dallas who died in the care of a hospice; a 70-year-old woman from Dallas; an 80-year-old man from Dallas who died in the care of a hospice; a 60-year-old man from Lancaster; a 60-year-old man from the Farmers’ branch; a 70-year-old man from Irving; a 70-year-old man from Mesquite; a 70-year-old woman from Mesquite; a 70-year-old man from Rowlett; a woman in her 80s from DeSoto. All patients had been hospitalized, and all but one, a 70-year-old man from Mesquite, had basic health conditions.
County officials said Monday that there were 1,580 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 4,955 COVID-19 cases in school-age children and reported staff from more than 764 separate K-12 schools in Dallas County, including 692 staff members. Since the beginning of the pandemic, 21 nurses have been diagnosed with COVID-19.
Jenkins issued a warning to those who planned 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. “