Dallas County reported 20 additional deaths and 462 new confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 Friday. One of the deaths included a Carrollton man in his 20s who was found dead at his home.
Medical experts have been warning that hospitalizations are on the rise in North Texas and are expected to increase over the next two weeks, according to UT Southwestern. The coronavirus unit in Wise County exceeded capacity Friday, officials said.
Across the state, there were 5,682 new cases and 91 new deaths reported Friday.
The additional deaths reported in Dallas County ranged in ages from a Carrollton man in his 20s who had underlying high-risk health conditions and was found at his home, to a Garland man in his 90s who has been hospitalized and didn't have underlying conditions.
Five of the people who died did not have underlying health conditions and 13 did have underlying high-risk health conditions, officials said. One man was critically ill at an area hospital. A man in his 70s died at a facility and lived at a long-term care facility.
For the past five weeks, the daily average of new confirmed and probable cases in Dallas County have increased. The percentage of positive COVID-19 tests has also increased.
Daily average of new confirmed and probable cases:
- Week ending on Sept. 12: 266
- Week ending on Sept. 19: 314
- Week ending on Sept. 26: 347
- Week ending on Oct. 3: 383
- Week ending on Oct. 10: 453
There have been 88,834 confirmed cases and 1,079 confirmed deaths in Dallas County since tracking began in March.
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Wise County hospital coronavirus unit exceeds capacity
The Wise Health System in Decatur has exceeded its capacity for COVID-19 patients.
CEO Jason Wren shared a letter on social media stating that the facility has seen a surge in patients during the past few days. The hospital has been forced to expand the COVID-19 unit as a result.
Wren said the facility had more patients hospitalized because of coronavirus Thursday than any other day in the pandemic.
The hospital is also experiencing staffing shortages due to the recent surge in COVID-19 cases. Wren said these patients require enhanced care.
Denton County reports 1 death, 212 new cases
Denton County reported one additional death and 212 new cases of COVID-19, officials said.
The man who died was in his 60s and lived in unincorporated southwest Denton County, officials said.
There have been 15,009 cases of COVID-19, 12,565 recoveries and 117 deaths in the county since tracking began in March.
Collin County reports 163 new cases
There were 163 new cases of COVID-19 in Collin County, according to the state health department.
Daily hospitalizations in the county reached a peak in July and declined, but are slowly rising again, as of early October.
McKinney, Plano, Allen and Frisco have the most cases in the county.
Most cases in the county have been in people in their 20s, followed by people in their 40s.
There have been 169 deaths, 16,751 cases and 15,806 recoveries since tracking began in March.
Dallas County officials provide update on efforts against COVID-19
Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins gave an update on the fight against COVID-19 in a news conference Friday.
Earlier this week, the county moved back to the red coronavirus threat level due to a "new and quickly escalating wave" of COVID-19 cases in the area, said Jenkins.
Red is the highest coronavirus risk level in the county, meaning people should "stay home, stay safe."
Mayor Johnson discusses importance of flu shots during the pandemic
Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson received his flu shot Friday.
Afterward, he urged the community to get a flu shot as hospitalizations related to coronavirus are increasing around the region.
"We need everyone to get a flu shot this year," Johnson said.
He said the flu vaccine will prevent people from getting the flu or lessen the symptoms.
The mayor said the hospital system cannot afford to be "overrun" at this time.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends a flu shot for anyone older than 6 months of age.
Additional medical resources sent to Amarillo, Lubbock
Additional medical resources have been sent to hospitals in Amarillo, Lubbock, and the surrounding areas to help in their fight against coronavirus, the governor's office said Friday.
The state sent 171 medical personnel and 100 more people will arrive by Sunday.
They also sent 100 IV pumps, 56 ventilators, and 25 oxygen concentrators to the region, according to the governor's office.