DALLAS — As of 12:00 pm December 29, 2021 Dallas County Health and Human Services is reporting 5,371 additional positive cases of 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in Dallas County, 4,622 confirmed cases and 749 probable cases. There is a cumulative total of 363,429 confirmed cases (PCR test). There is a cumulative total of 67,638 probable cases (antigen test). A total of 5,507 Dallas County residents have lost their lives due to COVID-19 illness. Today’s press release includes the new case totals accumulated from Friday the 24th through Tuesday the 28th.
Dallas County Health and Human Services (DCHHS) provided more than 500,000 total doses of COVID-19 vaccine at the Fair Park mega-vaccine clinic, which operated January 11 through July 17. A vaccination clinic is open at the Dallas College Eastfield Campus Location on Tuesdays – Saturdays from 9am-6pm. A weekly pop-up vaccination clinic will take place at Fair Park on Sundays, from 10am – 4pm, starting November 21st, 2021.
The additional deaths being reported today include the following:
– A woman in her 30’s who was a resident of the City of Dallas. She had been hospitalized and had underlying high risk health conditions.
– A woman in her 40’s who was a resident of the City of Dallas. She had been critically ill in an area hospital and had underlying high risk health conditions.
– A man in his 50’s who was a resident of the City of Mesquite. He had been hospitalized and had underlying high risk health conditions.
– A woman in her 50’s who was a resident of the City of Garland. She had been critically ill in an area hospital and had underlying high risk health conditions.
– A man in his 50’s who was a resident of the City of Sachse. He had been hospitalized and had underlying high risk health conditions.
– A man in his 50’s who was a resident of the City of Rowlett. He had been critically ill in an area hospital and had underlying high risk health conditions.
– A man in his 50’s who was a resident of the City of Dallas. He had been critically ill in an area hospital and had underlying high risk health conditions.
– A woman in her 50’s who was a resident of the City of Mesquite. She had been critically ill in an area hospital and had underlying high risk health conditions.
– A man in his 60’s who was a resident of the City of Sachse. He had been critically ill in an area hospital and had underlying high risk health conditions.
– A man in his 60’s who was a resident of the City of Garland. He expired in hospice and had underlying high risk health conditions.
– A woman in her 60’s who was a resident of the City of Mesquite. She had been critically ill in an area hospital and had underlying high risk health conditions.
– A woman in her 60’s who was a resident of the City of Garland. She had been hospitalized and had underlying high risk health conditions.
– A man in his 60’s who was a resident of the City of Garland. He had been critically ill in an area hospital and had underlying high risk health conditions.
– A man in his 60’s who was a resident of the City of Balch Springs. He had been critically ill in an area hospital and had underlying high risk health conditions.
– A man in his 60’s who was a resident of the City of Dallas. He had been critically ill in an area hospital and had underlying high risk health conditions.
– A woman in her 70’s who was a resident of the City of Mesquite. She had been hospitalized and had underlying high risk health conditions.
– A man in his 70’s who was a resident of the City of Dallas. He had been critically ill in an area hospital and had underlying high risk health conditions.
– A woman in her 80’s who was a resident of the City of Dallas. She expired in hospice and had underlying high risk health conditions.
– A woman in her 80’s woman who was a resident of the City of Dallas. She had been critically ill in an area hospital and had underlying high risk health conditions.
To date, a total of 542 cases with SARS-CoV-2 variants have been identified and investigated in residents of Dallas County, including: 148 cases of B.1.1.7 (Alpha); 4 cases of B.1.351 (Beta); 344 cases of B.1.617.2 (Delta); 11 cases of B.1.427 (Epsilon); 19 cases of P.1 (Gamma); 9 cases of B.1.526 (Iota); 4 case of C.37 (Lambda); 1 case of B.1.621 (Mu); 1 case of B.1.1.529 (Omicron); and 1 case of P.2 (Zeta). One hundred and 10 cases have been hospitalized and 9 have died. Eight COVID-19 variant cases were reinfections. One hundred and twenty-three people were considered fully vaccinated before infection with a COVID-19 variant. As of 12/22/2021, a total of 3,308 confirmed and probable cases were reported in CDC week 50 (week ending 12/18/21), which is a weekly rate of 125.5 new cases per 100,000 residents.
As of the week ending 12/18/2021, about 77% of Dallas County residents age 12 years and older have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine, including: 96% of residents age 65 years and older; 83% of residents between 40-64 years of age; 73% of residents 25-39 years of age; 62% of residents 18-24 years of age; and 57% of residents 12-17 years of age. In the cities of Addison, Coppell, Highland Park, Irving, and Sunnyvale, greater than 90% of residents 18 years of age and older have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine. In the cities of Desoto, Farmers Branch, Garland and University Park, greater than 80% of residents 18 years of age and older have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine. (See below)
About 68.0% of COVID-19 cases diagnosed in Week 50 were Dallas County residents who were not fully vaccinated. In Dallas County, 21,890 cases of COVID-19 breakthrough COVID-19 infections in fully vaccinated individuals have been confirmed to date, of which 779 (3.6%) were hospitalized and 208 have died due to COVID-19.
Of all Dallas County residents tested for COVID-19 by PCR during the week ending 12/18/2021 (CDC week 50), 10.8% of respiratory specimens tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. For week 50, area hospital labs have continued to report elevated numbers and proportions of respiratory specimens that are positive for other respiratory viruses by molecular tests: parainfluenza (5.5%), rhinovirus/enterovirus (40.4%) and RSV (5.0%).
There are currently 25 active long-term care facility outbreaks. A cumulative total of 4,935 residents and 2,912 healthcare workers in long-term facilities in Dallas have been diagnosed with COVID-19. Of these, 1,203 have been hospitalized and 851 have died. About 16% of all deaths reported to date have been associated with long-term care facilities.
There have been 6 outbreaks of COVID-19 in a congregate-living facility (e.g. homeless shelters, group homes, and halfway homes) reported within the past 30 days. A cumulative total of 767 residents and 263 staff members in congregate-living facilities in Dallas have been diagnosed with COVID-19. New cases are being reported as a daily aggregate, with more detailed data dashboards and summary reports updated on Friday evenings, available at: https://www.dallascounty.org/departments/dchhs/2019-novel-coronavirus/daily-updates.php.
Local health experts use hospitalizations, ICU admissions, and ER visits as three of the key indicators as part of determining the COVID-19 Risk Level (color-coded risk) and corresponding guidelines for activities during our COVID-19 response. The most recent COVID-19 hospitalization data for Dallas County, as reported to the North Central Texas Trauma Regional Advisory Council, can be found at www.dallascounty.org/covid-19 under “Monitoring Data,” and is updated regularly. This data includes information on the total available ICU beds, suspected and confirmed COVID-19 ER visits in the last 24 hours, confirmed COVID-19 inpatients, and COVID-19 deaths by actual date of death. The most recent forecasting from UTSW can be found here.
“Today’s numbers or a four day total 5,371 new cases and 19 deaths. It is important with the numbers increasing and Omicron becoming the dominant strain in Dallas County that we all do whatever we can to protect ourselves and one another. The most important thing you can do right now is to get boosted if you’re not already boosted, and to or do you vaccinated, if you’re not already vaccinated. Second is to wear a mask when indoors went around others outside your home, third is to limit your exposure, by working from home or in small groups while always being masked, foregoing outings with large amounts of people, and using services like delivery and take out. If you feel sick and cannot find a test, please stay home and do not go to work or school. We are working tonight and every day to increase testing. To find a test center near you, you can visit: https://tdem.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=1e91fb79fa44417898738e5bff31a3d8&fbclid=IwAR37bPcsKrH7nUe6e__-0eKHy4Ph-6TzJCBD4akpdBr0zPx8A2ns82irowQ,” said Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins.
All Dallas County COVID-19 Updates and Information can be found here: https://www.dallascounty.org/covid-19/ and all guidance documents can be found here: https://www.dallascounty.org/covid-19/guidance-health.php
Specific Guidance for the Public:
· Dallas County COVID-19 Related Health Guidance for the Public
· Dallas County Guidance for Individuals at High-Risk for Severe COVID-19
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends taking everyday preventive actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory diseases, including:
- If you’re unvaccinated, avoid close contact outside your home and put 6 feet of distance between yourself and people who don’t live in your household.
- Cover your mouth and nose with a cloth face cover when around others and continue to keep about 6 feet between yourself and others. The cloth face cover is not a substitute for social distancing.
- Stay home when you are sick, except to seek medical care
- Wash your hands often and with soap and water for at least 20 seconds and help young children to do the same. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-base hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces daily using a regular household cleaning spray or wipes.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash. If you do not have a tissue, use your sleeve, not your hands. Immediately wash your hands.
- Monitor your health daily. Be alert for symptoms. Take your temperature and follow CDC guidance if symptoms develop.
- CDC recommends that anyone with any signs or symptoms of COVID-19 get tested, regardless of vaccination status or prior infection.
- If you get tested because you have symptoms or were potentially exposed to the virus, you should stay away from others pending test results and follow the advice of your health care provider or a public health professional.
Additional information is available at the following websites:
· CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
· CDC Travel Information: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/index.html
· DSHS: https://dshs.texas.gov/coronavirus/
· DCHHS: https://www.dallascounty.org/departments/dchhs/2019-novel-coronavirus.php
