Dallas County Reports a Total of 8,483 New Positive 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Cases and 9 Deaths, Including 1,673 Probable Cases
Posted on 01/18/2022
CityofDallas

As of 3:00 pm January 14, 2022, Dallas County Health and Human Services is reporting 8,483 additional positive cases of 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in Dallas County, 6,810 confirmed cases, and 1,673 probable cases. There is a cumulative total of 406,605 confirmed cases (PCR test). There is a cumulative total of 82,390 probable cases (antigen test). A total of 5,658 Dallas County residents have lost their lives due to COVID-19 illness.

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 40's who was a resident of a long-term care facility in the City of Duncanville. He expired in an area hospital ED and had underlying high-risk health conditions.

  • A man in his 40'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 40's who was a resident of the City of Hutchins. She had been critically ill in an area hospital and did not have underlying high-risk health conditions.
  • A woman in her 50's who was a resident of the City of Cedar Hill. She expired in an area hospital ED and had underlying high-risk health conditions.
  • A woman in her 70's who was a resident of the City of Irving. She 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 Garland. She had been hospitalized and had underlying high-risk health conditions.
    A woman in her 70'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 woman in her 70's who was a resident of a long-term care facility in the City of Dallas. She 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 Richardson. 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 individuals 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's high total of cases and the closures of several of our school districts in North Texas illustrates the strain that the Omicron variant is inflicting on families and businesses. In order to keep businesses open and people safe, it is important that we do not go to work or school if we have been in close contact with a COVID positive case or are experiencing any symptoms consistent with COVID until you have been tested to know your status at one of our facilities or with an at-home test, and until you've reviewed the guidelines from the CDC on when to return to work/school. Employers, now is the time to allow telecommuting to the fullest extent possible. In businesses where telecommuting is not possible, ensure strict compliance with masking and allow people to work in the smallest groups or "pods" possible, so that if an infection strikes a group, it will not shut down an entire assembly line or department.

"Inpiduals, please consider your need to be in large, crowded and indoor settings outside your home now through the end of the month. Take advantage of curbside pick-up or delivery and outdoor activities where spacing is possible. And lastly, if you have not gotten your primary vaccine series or your booster if you're eligible, go to www.vaccines.gov and find a vaccination clinic near you. I know many are mentally tired from this Covid pandemic, but we must not lose our resolve to do the things that are proven to keep us as safe as possible," 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: