As of 12:00 pm May 02, 2022, Dallas County Health and Human Services is reporting 344 additional positive cases of 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in Dallas County, 198 confirmed cases, and 146 probable cases. There is a cumulative total of 483,125 confirmed cases (PCR test). There is a cumulative total of 107,231 probable cases (antigen test). Today's report includes 216 newly reported cases of COVID-19 within 14 days of specimen collection date. A total of 6,409 Dallas County residents have lost their lives due to COVID-19 illness. Today's press release includes the new case totals accumulated from Friday. Tomorrow's press release will include the numbers of new cases from Saturday, Sunday, and Monday.
Dallas County Health and Human Services (DCHHS) provided more than 500,000 total doses of the COVID-19 vaccine at the Fair Park mega-vaccine clinic, which operated from January 11 through July 17. A vaccination clinic is open at the Dallas College Eastfield Campus Location on Saturdays from 9 am-6 pm. A weekly pop-up vaccination clinic will also take place at Ellis Davis Fieldhouse on Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10 am-6 pm.
The additional deaths being reported today include the following:
- A man in his 40s 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 woman in her 50s 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 60s who was a resident of the City of Dallas. He expired in an area hospital ED and had underlying high-risk health conditions.
- A man in his 60s 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 woman in her 60s who was a resident of the City of Wilmer. She had been critically ill in an area hospital and had underlying high-risk health conditions.
- A woman in her 80s who was a resident of the City of Garland. She had been hospitalized and had underlying high-risk health conditions.
- A woman in her 80s who was a resident of the City of Dallas. She had been hospitalized and had underlying high-risk health conditions.
- A woman in her 80s 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.
To date, a total of 2,575 cases with SARS-CoV-2 variants have been identified and investigated in residents of Dallas County, including 288 cases of B.1.1.7 (Alpha); 4 cases of B.1.351 (Beta); 1,851 cases of B.1.617.2 (Delta); 31 cases of B.1.427 (Epsilon); 29 cases of P.1 (Gamma); 15 cases of B.1.526 (Iota); 5 cases of C.37 (Lambda); 4 cases of B.1.621 (Mu); 343 cases of B.1.1.529 (Omicron); and 3 cases of P.2 (Zeta). Four hundred and forty-five cases have been hospitalized and 63 have died. Forty-nine COVID-19 variant cases were reinfections. Seven hundred and twenty-five people were considered fully vaccinated before infection with a COVID-19 variant.
As of 4/29/2022, a total of 645 confirmed and probable cases were reported in CDC week 16 (week ending 4/23/22), which is a weekly rate of 24.5 new cases per 100,000 residents.
As of the week ending 4/23/2022, about 81% of Dallas County residents age 12 years and older have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, including 99% of residents age 65 years and older; 87% of residents between 40-64 years of age; 79% of residents 25-39 years of age; 68% of residents 18-24 years of age; and 63% of residents 12-17 years of age. In the cities of Addison, Coppell, Highland Park, Irving, and Sunnyvale, greater than 94% of residents 18 years of age and older have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. In the cities of Cedar Hill, Desoto, Farmers Branch, Garland, Lancaster, and University Park, greater than 81% of residents 18 years of age and older have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
About 47.8% of COVID-19 cases diagnosed in Week 16 were Dallas County residents who were not fully vaccinated. In Dallas County, 60,005 cases of COVID-19 breakthrough COVID-19 infections in fully vaccinated individuals have been confirmed to date, of which 4,019 (6.7%) were hospitalized and 726 have died due to COVID-19.
Of all Dallas County residents tested for COVID-19 by PCR during the week ending 4/23/2022 (CDC week 16), 5.8% of respiratory specimens tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. For week 15, 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 (6.02 %), rhinovirus/enterovirus (20.22 %), and RSV (3.69%).
There are currently 11 active long-term care facility outbreaks. A cumulative total of 6,479 residents and 4,364 healthcare workers in long-term facilities in Dallas have been diagnosed with COVID-19. Of these, 1,338 have been hospitalized and 911 have died. About 16% of all deaths reported to date have been associated with long-term care facilities.
There has been 1 outbreak 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 1,135 residents and staff members (840 residents and 295 staff) 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. The most recent COVID-19 Data Summaries for Dallas County, TX can be found at the bottom of this page.
Find a Covid-19 Vaccine Near You
"Even in these times of low spread, a little prudence goes a long way. Opt for outdoors events while the weather is good, because outdoor for gatherings is safer than indoors. And if you haven't had your vaccine and at least one booster, find a shot near you at Vaccines.gov," 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:
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends taking everyday preventive actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory diseases, including:
- Avoid close contact outside your home: 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-based 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.
Additional information is available at the following websites: