The number does not include at-home COVID-19 tests, the county said. Tarrant also records over 6,000 cases for the day.
Dallas and Tarrant counties each reported more than 6,000 new COVID-19 cases Thursday, strikingly high totals that appear to reflect the rapid spread of the virus’ omicron variant in North Texas.
The 6,310 new cases reported in Dallas County is the highest single-day total for the county since the pandemic began.
County Judge Clay Jenkins noted that the number doesn’t include at-home COVID-19 tests, which have become increasingly popular as the omicron variant spreads.
Referring to a UT Southwestern Medical Center projection that shows coronavirus hospitalizations potentially reaching record levels in North Texas in the coming weeks, Jenkins said in a written statement that “it is imperative that we control the spread as best we can.”
Health experts have expressed alarm about the rate that the new variant has ripped across the region.
While early data indicates that omicron may cause less-severe illness than previous strains of the coronavirus, that may not translate to fewer hospitalizations if the overall number of cases surpasses what health care systems saw in previous surges. Pediatric hospitalizations are already on a concerning rise, experts say.
And already fatigued and overwhelmed health care systems are being further burdened by staffing shortages caused by the virus. North Texas hospitals will get a much-needed staffing boost soon though, through the roughly 1,000 state-supplied traveling nurses on the way.
Jenkins stressed that people should stay home if they have any symptoms of COVID-19. The county is working to increase test locations with cases increasing across the region as demand for access to testing rises.
“Don’t go to work thinking you’re OK” if you think you might be sick, he told The Dallas Morning News. “You’re really hurting us.”
Dallas County’s previous one-day high of 3,549 cases was reported nearly a year ago, on Jan. 12, during last winter’s coronavirus surge.
The county reported 4,800 cases Wednesday but noted that it was a four-day total of data from Saturday through Tuesday because of a delay in reporting from the New Year’s weekend. Jenkins confirmed that Thursday’s number, however, was a one-day total.
Statewide, testing has shot up from about 100,000 tests performed per day in late December to more than 180,000 on Wednesday, according to data from the Department of State Health Services.
But the increased testing alone doesn’t explain the dramatic increase in new cases: The positivity rate for molecular tests was a record 35.1% as of Wednesday, while the positivity rate for rapid tests was more than 20%, state data shows. Both numbers are well over the 10% positivity rate officials including Gov. Greg Abbott have said is cause for concern.
Dallas County also reported 12 additional deaths from the virus Thursday.
Of the new cases Thursday, 4,951 were confirmed and 1,359 were probable. The numbers bring the county’s overall case total to 448,685, including 377,203 confirmed and 71,482 probable. The death toll is 5,587.
The average number of new daily cases in the county for the past two weeks is 1,758 — about 3.6 times as high as the previous 14-day period’s average of 479.
The county reported that 904 people were hospitalized with the virus.
According to the state, 1,735,522 people in Dallas County have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, while 1,483,850— 60.3% of the county’s population 5 and older — are fully vaccinated.
Tarrant County
Tarrant County reported 6,040 new cases Thursday, along with eight deaths from the virus.
Of the new cases, 4,947 were confirmed and 1,093 were probable. The numbers bring the county’s case total to 408,870, including 335,605 confirmed and 73,265 probable. The death toll is 5,057.
The average number of new daily cases in the county for the last two weeks is 2,022, roughly five times the average of 409 during the previous 14-day period.
The county reported that 944 people were hospitalized with the virus.
According to the state, 1,286,938 people in Tarrant County have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, while 1,128,418 — 58.1% of the county’s population 5 and older — are fully vaccinated.
Texas
The state reported 44,967 more cases Thursday as its death toll from COVID-19 surpassed 75,000.
Of the new cases, 35,453 were confirmed and 9,514 were probable.
The state also reported 126 COVID-19 deaths, raising its toll to 75,014.
The state’s case total is now 4,892,604, including 4,053,497 confirmed and 839,107 probable.
The average number of new daily cases in the state for the last two weeks is 31,134. For the previous 14-day period, the average was 6,976.
There are a total of 8,740 COVID-19 hospitalizations in the state, including 2,746 in North Texas.
According to the state, 19,489,125 people in Texas have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, while 16,553,419 — 61.4% of the state’s population 5 and older — are fully vaccinated.
Collin County
The state added one death and 1,939 cases to Collin County’s totals Thursday.
Of the new cases, 1,405 were confirmed and 534 were probable. The numbers bring the county’s case total to 152,472, including 121,302 confirmed and 31,170 probable. The death toll is 1,222.
The average number of new daily cases in the county for the last two weeks is 1,072. For the previous 14-day period, the average was 252.
The county reported that 429 people were hospitalized with the virus.
According to the state, 756,591 people in Collin County have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, while 664,432 — 69.0% of the county’s population 5 and older — are fully vaccinated.
Denton County
Denton County reported one death and 716 cases Thursday.
The numbers bring the county’s case total to 118,518. The death toll is 765.
The average number of new daily cases in the county for the last two weeks is 283. For the previous 14-day period, the average was 154.
The county reported that 156 people were hospitalized with the virus.
According to the state, 591,031 people in Denton County have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, while 525,502 — 63.3% of the county’s population 5 and older — are fully vaccinated.
CORRECTION, 1:15 p.m. Jan. 7: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated the number of new probable cases in Dallas County.
