Texas has reached a grim milestone by surpassing 25,000 deaths during the coronavirus pandemic, the second highest total in the country.
On Saturday, state health officials reported 272 new deaths due to COVID-19, bringing Texas’ death toll to 25,226. Cases of COVID-19 and virus-related hospitalizations continue to rise in the state.
State officials also reported there were around 9,796 people hospitalized with the virus on Saturday, an increase of nearly 22% over the last month.
The increase in coronavirus cases and hospitalizations comes as state health officials announced Texas will receive 620,000 more doses of COVID-19 vaccines over the next week between both Moderna and Pfizer, following the FDA's emergency authorization of the Moderna vaccine.
More than 224,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine have already been delivered in Texas. The new doses of that vaccine will now go to places like long-term care facilities, state officials said.
Moderna vaccine doses will be distributed to freestanding emergency rooms, health departments and clinics across the state, according to officials.
More than 26,000 people in the state had been vaccinated as of Saturday afternoon, according to state data.
Officials estimate there are around 445,000 people between Collin, Dallas, Denton and Tarrant counties that fall into the Phase 1A vaccine distribution group, which includes healthcare workers and long-term care facility residents.
Below shows how many people have received their first vaccine dose as of Saturday afternoon in the four biggest counties in North Texas.
Collin: 415
Dallas: 1,791
Denton: 266
Tarrant: 1,010
State data shows 184 of Texas' 254 counties have received vaccine doses so far.
Dallas County reports over 1,700 cases, 8 more deaths
In Dallas County, health officials reported a record high number of hospitalizations for the third time this week.
Health officials also reported 1,723 cases of COVID-19 and eight additional deaths. Of those numbers, 347 reported cases are considered probable.
Saturday’s deaths include:
- A Dallas man in his 50’s, who was found dead inside of his home. He had underlying high-risk health conditions.
- A Garland man in his 50’s, who was found dead inside of his home. He had underlying high-risk health conditions.
- A Dallas man in his 70’s, who had underlying high-risk health conditions.
- A Grand Prairie man in his 70’s, who had underlying high-risk health conditions.
- An Irving man in his 70’s, who died in hospice care. He had underlying high-risk conditions.
- A man in his 80’s, who was a resident of a long-term care facility in Dallas.
- A woman in her 80’s, who was a resident of a long-term care facility in Dallas. She died in hospice care and had underlying high-risk health conditions.
- A Cedar Hill man in his 90’s, who had underlying high-risk conditions.
Officials say there are currently 99 long-term care facility outbreaks.
Since tracking began in March, health officials have confirmed a countywide total of 153,823 cases of COVID-19, including 1,431 deaths.
Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins continues to encourage residents to keep gatherings small, stay home for Christmas, and to shop local and pickup curbside to help small business.
“A post-holiday surge on top of the current increases could be devastating to our already heavily burdened health care providers. This is not the position we wanted to be in heading into the winter holidays,” said Jenkins.
Tarrant County reports over 1,800 cases, 13 more deaths
Tarrant County health officials reported 1,876 cases of COVID-19 Saturday, and 13 additional deaths. This brings the countywide total to 130,137 cases, including 1,084 deaths since tracking began in mid-March.
Officials also reported that there are currently 1,063 patients hospitalized due to COVID-19.
Denton County reports 483 cases
Denton County Public Health announced 483 new cases of COVID-19 Saturday. This increases the countywide total to 34,301 cases, including 183 deaths.
DCPH will host a free drive-thru testing center on Tuesday, Dec. 22 at UNT’s Discovery Park at 2940 N. Elm Street in Denton. Eligible community members must live in Denton County, pre-register by calling 940-349-2585 and not have preciously tested positive for COVID-19. Appointments start at 8 a.m.
WFAA Digital Producers Briauna Brown and Jennifer Prohov contributed to this report.