This story will be updated throughout the day as new information is released.
The Texas Department of State Health Services reported Saturday afternoon that 215 people across the state have died from the novel coronavirus, bringing the statewide total to 11,266 deaths.
DSHS says several laboratories have submitted backlogs of test results this past week, so some counties are receiving notifications of positive tests that were previously unreported.
Across Texas, there have been at least 573,139 confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 since tracking began in March, according to DSHS. At least 446, 030 Texans have recovered.
Dallas County reported 574 new cases Saturday and 862 additional cases from the state health department’s backlog, official said.
Of the previous cases now being reported, one is from May, 448 are from June, 63 are from July and 350 are from August.
Six additional deaths have been reported, which include the following:
- A Dallas man in his 40s, who had underlying health conditions
- A Dallas man in his 50s, who was critically ill in an area hospital
- A Dallas man in his 60s, who had underlying health conditions
- A Dallas man in his 60s, who did not have underlying health conditions
- Two Dallas women in their 70s, who had underlying health conditions
Despite the number of cases this week, Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins said the county had, “one of the lowest reported weeks for deaths since the middle of June.”
Health officials also reported that from Aug. 1 to Aug. 14, 531 school-aged children between the ages of 5 and 18 were diagnosed with COVID-19. Over 3,549 children under 18 have been diagnosed with COVID-19 since July 1, officials said.
Tarrant County reports 22 deaths
Tarrant County health officials reported 22 deaths related to COVID-19 on Saturday. Health officials said seven of the deaths were from July.
According to officials, all of the patients had underlying health conditions. The youngest victim was an Arlington man in his 50s and the oldest was a Fort Worth man in his 100s.
Health officials have confirmed 505 deaths and 32,488 recoveries since tracking began in March.
Denton County reports 145 new cases
Denton County Public Health announced 145 newly confirmed cases of COVID-19 Saturday afternoon. This increases the countywide total to 9,095 cases, including 93 deaths and 6,525 recoveries since tracking began in March.
DCPH will be hosting a free drive-thru testing center Tuesday, Aug. 25 at Horizon Unitarian Universalist Church at 1641 W. Hebron Parkway in Carrollton. It will start at 8 a.m., and if you would like to participate you must pre-register by calling 940-349-2585.
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