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Live COVID-19 updates: Dallas County's new cases have leveled off, Jenkins says, as 253 new cases are reported

While the county's case counts may have leveled off, death tolls likely have not, according to projections from UT.

Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins said the county may be approaching a plateau at the peak of its new cases on Monday after the last seven days have had roughly the same number of new cases reported each day, around 250. 

Health officials said there were 253 new cases to report Monday, a tie for the most positive cases reported in a single day since the pandemic began. The county has now reported at least 6,123 cases. 

"It’s too early to call this a plateau at the peak but that would be consistent with the medical models from early April done before the Governor’s orders reopening businesses," Jenkins said in a tweet. "It’s very important that you continue following the tenets of Safer at Home." 

Two more people have died from the disease as well, officials said, bringing the county's death toll so far to 145 people. 

Both were women who died at the long-term care facilities where they were residents. One was in her 60s and lived in Seagoville while the other was in her 80s and lived in the city of Dallas. 

While the county's case counts may have leveled off, researchers with the University of Texas predict the metropolitan area of Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington is likely to see death counts continue to rise from the disease for the next few weeks. Projections from their research show show nearly 500 more people could die in the region before the end of May.

Tarrant County has seen a different trend, with its number of new cases having mostly declined in the past week. 

The county reported 50 new cases and 26 new recoveries Monday, bringing the respective totals to 3,745 and 806. 

They also said another person has died, raising the death toll to 104 people. 

Currently, 196 are hospitalized in the county, according to officials, a number that has dropped steadily for the last three days.

The state of Texas as a whole has had nearly 40,000 cases reported since the pandemic began, with 1,100 fatalities. Nearly 22,000 people have recovered while at least 1,525 patients remain hospitalized, according to state data. 

Top updates for Monday, May 11:

For a daily roundup of the biggest coronavirus news from around North Texas, sign up for the WFAA COVID-19 email newsletter.

American Airlines Center tests to run out by the end of May unless Jenkins negotiates for longer

Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins said in a news conference Monday the federal government on May 31 will remove the 1,000 daily COVID-19 tests that Dallas was making available at drive-up testing sites like the American Airlines Center. 

Jenkins said he’s negotiating to keep the tests longer.

He announced seven new testing sites today but said each of them at Walmart and Kroger stores can only do 50 COVID-19 tests daily.

When asked whether losing the 1,000 daily COVID-19 tests will impact the county and how that should be interpreted, Jenkins said: “That’s an indication the feds are getting out of testing.”

Jenkins said there’s talk that Abbott's “surge forces” to test large numbers of people will visit all four large counties in North Texas for two days in each place — focusing on ZIP codes where there are the most COVID-19 cases.

Shortly after the press conference, Abbottdirected state officials to test all residents and staff in nursing homes across Texas. 

Dallas County Health Director Dr. Phillip Huang said at the news conference the positive infection rate at hospitals was 9.4% on May 2. Anything below 10% is good. But the feds say a sustained 14-day decline is necessary for reopening. The rate had been 13-14%.

Also at the news conference, Jenkins debuted a new threat level map to decide when it's safe to re-open.

Red means stay home, if you can.

Orange means use extreme caution. You can dine out, but do so cautiously. 

Yellow means proceed carefully. You can take a vacation or travel. 

Green means the new normal until a vaccine is discovered and is widely available.

Jenkins stressed that it's a guideline and not an order, but was designed by doctors. 

"We're at red right now," he said.

Detainees at Prairieland Detention Center test positive  

The city of Alvarado has five positive cases of COVID-19, while the Prairieland Detention Center has 45 positive cases in detainees.

14 additional cases reported in Grayson County

The Grayson County Health Department says there are now 14 additional positive cases of COVID-19. One patient is 10 years old, while the others are in their 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, and 60s.

All cases are currently isolated at home.

Tarrant County Jail says 55 inmates have tested positive for COVID-19

Out of 3,473 inmates at the Tarrant County Jail, 55 inmates have tested positive for COVID-19. There have been 29 positive cases in the jail staff.

All inmates with positive cases are in quarantine and are being treated by John Peter Smith medical staff.

There have been 50 inmates who have recovered.

More than 275 inmates at the Dallas County jail have tested positive

Hundreds of people connected to the Dallas County jail have tested positive for COVID-19 so far, a spokesperson for the Dallas County Sheriff's Department said Monday.

A total of at least 335 people have been infected, officials said. 

There are currently 233 active cases among inmates, while 48 have recovered from the disease.

Fifty-four jail staff have also tested positive. Nine of them have recovered so far.

The numbers mirror a similarly large outbreak at the Federal Medical Center Fort Worth prison, where 628 inmates have tested positive for COVID-19 and at least five have died since the pandemic began. 

RELATED: 56-year-old inmate of federal prison in Fort Worth latest to die from COVID-19, officials say

Testing in Ellis, Hood counties

Free COVID-19 testing will be done in Ellis County on Monday and Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Waxahachie Sports Complex, county officials said

Free testing will also take place in Granbury on Monday, Hood County officials said, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Emergency Operation Center on Deputy Larry Miller Drive.

RELATED: How to get swab or antibody coronavirus test in Dallas-Fort Worth

To be tested, patients must have one or more of the below symptoms of COVID-19:

  • Fever and/or chills
  • Cough (Dry or Productive)
  • Fatigue
  • Body aches/muscle or joint pain
  • Shortness of Breath
  • Sore Throat
  • Headaches
  • Nausea/Vomiting/Diarrhea
  • Nasal Congestion
  • Loss of Taste and/or Smell

To get tested in either county, patients must sign up for an appointment beforehand by calling 512-883-2400 or visiting txcovidtest.org.

Dallas hospitals continue to see less ICU beds in use

The number of occupied ICU beds in the city of Dallas continued to decrease two days in a row, according to data from Mayor Eric Johnson's office. 

The total number of occupied hospital beds in the city decreased again by 2% while occupied ICU beds decreased by another 3%, with the capacity rate at 59% and 63% respectively. 

The raw total numbers from the 25 hospitals are: 

  • Total beds: 5,713
    • Beds occupied: 3,376
  • Total ICU beds: 827
    • ICU beds occupied: 525
  • Total ventilators: 948
    • Ventilators in use: 322

Small business fund applications due

Applications for a piece of Dallas' small business continuity fund are due Monday night at 11:59 p.m. The program is one of two such relief efforts the city launched last week to help residents.

The other was a mortgage and rental assistance program that closed its application just one day after it launched. 

Dallas business owners can apply for up to $10,000 in grants and up to $50,000 in low-cost loans from the continuity fund. To be eligible, they must be able to prove they were in operation for at least six months before the pandemic hit Dallas and then saw at least a 25% reduction in revenue due to COVID-19. 

$2.5 million is available for the grants and $2.5 million for the loans. Businesses will be selected using a lottery system. 

Applicants also must either be low- to moderate-income microbusiness owners or businesses where a majority of the employees were low- to moderate-income workers. 

WFAA digital producers Jake Harris and Eline de Bruijn contributed to this report.

Health experts recommend taking the following actions to prevent the spread of COVID-19:

  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
  • Practice "social distancing" and stay at least 6 feet away from others and avoid large public gatherings
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
  • Stay home when you are sick.
  • Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
  • Follow CDC’s recommendations for using a facemask.
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
  • If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.
  • Consult CDC’s travel website for any travel advisories and steps to protect yourself if you plan to travel outside of the U.S.

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