Dallas County Reports a Four-Day Total of 9,381 New Positive 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Cases and 9 Deaths, Including 1,607 Probable Cases
Posted on 01/20/2022
CityofDallas

As of 12:00 pm January 18, 2022, Dallas County Health and Human Services is reporting 9,381 additional positive cases of 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in Dallas County, 7,774 confirmed cases, and 1,607 probable cases. There is a cumulative total of 415,673 confirmed cases (PCR test). There is a cumulative total of 84,399 probable cases (antigen test). A total of 5,678 Dallas County residents have lost their lives due to COVID-19 illness. Today's press release includes the number of new cases from Saturday, Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday.

Covid -19 Risklevel

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 from January 11 through July 17. A vaccination clinic is open at the Dallas College Eastfield Campus Location on Tuesdays - Saturdays from 9 am-6 pm. A weekly pop-up vaccination clinic will take place at Fair Park on Sundays, from 10 am - 4 pm, starting November 21st, 2021.

The additional deaths being reported today include the following:

  • A man in his 60's who was a resident of the City of Dallas. He had been hospitalized and had underlying high-risk health conditions.
  • A man in his 60's who was a resident of the City of Irving. He 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 Dallas. She had been critically ill in an area hospital and had underlying high-risk health conditions.
  • A man in his 70's who was a resident of the City of Grand Prairie. He had been critically ill in an area hospital and had underlying high-risk health conditions.
  • A man in his 70's who was a resident of the City of Garland. He had been hospitalized and had underlying high-risk health conditions.
  • A man in his 70'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 woman in her 70'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 80's who was a resident of the City of Dallas. He had been hospitalized and had underlying high-risk health conditions.
  • A woman in her 90's who was a resident of the City of Irving. She had been hospitalized and had underlying high-risk health conditions

To date, a total of 897 cases with SARS-CoV-2 variants have been identified and investigated in residents of Dallas County, including 161 cases of B.1.1.7 (Alpha); 4 cases of B.1.351 (Beta); 667 cases of B.1.617.2 (Delta); 14 cases of B.1.427 (Epsilon); 19 cases of P.1 (Gamma); 9 cases of B.1.526 (Iota); 4 cases of C.37 (Lambda); 2 cases of B.1.621 (Mu); 16 cases of B.1.1.529 (Omicron); and 1 case of P.2 (Zeta). Two hundred cases have been hospitalized and 34 have died. Seventeen COVID-19 variant cases were reinfections. Two hundred and twenty-five people were considered fully vaccinated before infection with a COVID-19 variant. As of 1/14/2022, a total of 31,213 confirmed and probable cases were reported in CDC week 1 (week ending 1/8/22), which is a weekly rate of 1,184.3 new cases per 100,000 residents.

As of the week ending 1/8/2022, about 78% of Dallas County residents age 12 years and older have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine, including 97% of residents age 65 years and older; 84% of residents between 40-64 years of age; 75% of residents 25-39 years of age; 64% of residents 18-24 years of age; and 59% 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 the COVID-19 vaccine. In the cities of Desoto, Farmers Branch, Garland, Lancaster, and University Park, greater than 80% of residents 18 years of age and older have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. (See below).

About 54.1 % of COVID-19 cases diagnosed in Week 1 were Dallas County residents who were not fully vaccinated. In Dallas County, 25,370 cases of COVID-19 breakthrough COVID-19 infections in fully vaccinated inpiduals have been confirmed to date, of which 1,881 (7.4%) were hospitalized and 239 have died due to COVID-19.

Of all Dallas County residents tested for COVID-19 by PCR during the week ending 1/8/2022 (CDC week 1), 42.1% of respiratory specimens tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. For week 1, 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 (4.71%), rhinovirus/enterovirus (20.25%), and RSV (9.32%).

There are currently 76 active long-term care facility outbreaks. A cumulative total of 5,409 residents and 3,464 healthcare workers in long-term facilities in Dallas have been diagnosed with COVID-19. Of these, 1,221 have been hospitalized and 857 have died. About 15% of all deaths reported to date have been associated with long-term care facilities.

There have been 11 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 802 residents and 268 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.

Covid -19 Aduit ICU PatientsCovid -19 VisitsICU BedsActual Death

Find a COVID-19 Vaccine Near You

"Today we record our 500,000th case of COVID-19 here in Dallas County. The pandemic has brought with it 5,678 deaths, many hospitalizations, disruptions, and cases of long COVID, but it has also exposed the resilience and compassion of the people of North Texas and Dallas County in particular, in ways that are both remarkable and unique. I am thankful for the grit and resolve of the people of North Texas, our healthcare heroes, first responders and essential workers, and everyone who has sacrificed to keep our community as safe and as strong as possible during this two year global pandemic. Now is the time if you have not been vaccinated to join your neighbors in getting vaccinated and doing your patriotic part to protect the community against COVID. More than 71% of eligible inpiduals have received at least one shot, yet only a little over 15% have been boosted. So if you haven't had your booster yet now is the time to get your booster. You can find a shot near at vaccines.org. We are reaching the peak of the Omicron wave. And it's very important that we continue to limit our events in large crowds, wear a mask indoors when outside our own home. The peak will be a welcome moment, but at peak you still have a lot of community transmission. It will take approximately six to eight weeks after the peak for us to get the numbers down from the Omicron wave. And so it will be important to continue making good decisions and wearing your mask, even after the peak is reached. I know you can do it. I know you can support each other and protect our community. You've done it for the last two years period. This will end. We will defeat this pandemic, together," 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: