DALLAS — Dallas County health officials reported two new cases of the COVID-19 variant B.1.429 Tuesday. This variant was first described to emerge in California.
In addition, to date,14 cases of the COVID-19 variant first discovered in the UK and one case of the B.1.526 variant first discovered in New York have been identified in Dallas County residents.
Health officials also reported 228 cases and said Tuesday 19 more residents died from COVID-19, bringing the countywide total to 3,413 confirmed deaths since tracking began in March 2020.
The deaths included men and women who ranged in age from 50 to over 90.
Following Tuesday’s announcement that Texas will allow all adults to be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine starting Monday, March 29, Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins is encouraging everyone to register.
“I am proud of the spirit of North Texas and the work that our volunteers have done thus far, and I am hopeful that as the possibility of a vaccination becomes available to everyone in the community, that we will still see people signing up to help their fellow Texans work their way through the vaccine process,” said Jenkins.
Parkland Hospital closes COVID-19 units
Parkland Hospital has closed its COVID units, the hospital said Tuesday.
The unit still has COVID patients, but the hospital doesn’t need the dedicated units. Currently, there are 23 patients.
At the height of the pandemic, there were six units with 257 patients being treated at the hospital.
On Nov. 21, there were five COVID units open with 160 patients.
On March 23, the Texas Department of State Health Services said that there were 3,498 patients currently in Texas hospitals. There were 1,186 available ICU beds and 13,620 available beds.
Parkland is no longer doing walk-up COVID tests, but is still conducting drive-thru tests.
Tarrant County hospitalizations increase
Tarrant County reported a slight increase in coronavirus-related hospitalizations Tuesday. The county confirmed there are currently 218 patients compared to 209 reported the day before.
The number remains lower than a month ago when 629 patients were hospitalized due to COVID-19. The county also announced 268 new cases of coronavirus and four additional deaths Tuesday.
The latest victims to die include a Fort Worth man in his 80s, a Fort Worth man in his 70s, a man from White Settlement in his 70s, and Fort Worth man in his 40s. County health officials said three of the four victims had underlying health conditions.
The county has administered vaccines to more than 475,000 of its residents. According to the county's dashboard, 171,153 residents are fully vaccinated.
County officials are working out details on how the vaccination process will look going forward since all adults in Texas will be eligible beginning March 29.
"I will not be in favor of walk-in appointments," Judge Glen Whitley said during a Commissioners Court meeting Tuesday.
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Denton County reports 129 new cases and encourages people to sign-up for Monday vaccine eligibility
Denton County health officials reported 129 new cases Tuesday.
The county is also encouraging people to sign-up for the COVID vaccine as eligibility is set to expand to all adults on Monday.
The county has reported 71,200 cases and 453 deaths since tracking began in March 2020.
Visitation rules updated for long-term care facilities in Texas
The Texas Health and Human Services Commission announced it has updated visitation rules for fully vaccinated long-term care facilities.
Effective Tuesday, fully vaccinated long-term facility residents are allowed to have in-person visits with family members and friends who are not designated, essential caregivers. Everyone must follow CDC safety protocols which include wearing face masks, HHSC officials said.
State health officials said the expanded visitation is also allowed in assisted living facilities, intermediate care facilities, and Home and Community-based Services providers.
Here is what's allowed with the updated rules:
- close/personal contact during any visitation for fully vaccinated residents.
- outdoor visitation at all facilities, even when the facility has an outbreak.
- up to two essential caregivers at the same time to visit a resident with any COVID-19 status.
- all visitation without time limits, while adhering to infection prevention and control measures.
- end-of-life visits for all residents regardless of their COVID-19 status in all nursing facilities, with an expanded definition of end-of-life visits that now includes all residents receiving hospice services; residents at or near the end of life, with or without hospice services; and residents whose prognosis does not indicate recovery.
This means long-term care facilities no longer need to:
- request general visitation approval from HHSC.
- monitor visits or escort visitors to and from the visitation area.
- limit indoor visitation to areas with a plexiglass barrier or booth.
- require documentation of a negative COVID-19 test result for essential caregiver or salon services visitors.
Texas to open COVID-19 vaccine appointments to all adults
Texas will open COVID-19 vaccination appointments to all adults next week, state officials announced Tuesday.
While providers will continue to prioritize older adults, all adults will be eligible to receive a vaccine starting March 29, officials said.
Imelda Garcia, the state health department's associate commissioner for laboratory and infectious disease services and chair of the Expert Vaccine Allocation Panel, explained in a news release that the state should have enough vaccine supply to now open up vaccines to all adults.