As hospitalizations for COVID-19 patients increase across the state, the number of positive cases in Dallas County continues to spike.
On Thursday afternoon, health official announced that 312 people test positive and three more people died. This marks a new record-high for single day cases reported since testing began in March.
Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins wants to remind residents that more testing is now available across the county and that should be factored into the count.
The victims who died include:
- A Dallas woman in her 50s. She had been critically ill in an area hospital, and had underlying health conditions
- A man in his 60s, who was a resident of a long-term care facility in Dallas. He had been critically ill in an area hospital and had underlying health conditions.
- A Dallas man in his 70s. He had been critically ill in an area hospital and had underlying health conditions.
The countywide total for positive cases is now 13,257, which includes 277 deaths.
“It’s more important than even that you avoid large crowds, maintain six-foot distancing, wear a cloth face covering when on public transportation, around people in businesses or at other gatherings, and use good hygiene. It’s up to all of us to #FlattenTheCurve and the best way to do that is to #StayHomeSaveLives,” Jenkins said.
Record high COVID-19 hospitalizations for second day straight in North Texas
North Texas hospitalizations hit a record high for the second day in a row on Thursday with 705 patients being treated for the novel coronavirus.
On Wednesday, the high was 687.
"People do need to be vigilant and it's going to determine what's going to happen in the next several weeks," Dallas County Health Director Philip Huang told WFAA Wednesday.
The hospitalization record comes after 312 more residents tested positive in Dallas County on Thursday, marking a record-high for single-day cases reported since testing began in March.
Statewide, hospitalizations have dropped for the first time this week down to 2,008. Wednesday was a record for hospitalizations with 2,153 patients.
Across the state, there are now 2.69 confirmed cases per 1,000 persons as of Wednesday.
Statewide positivity rate seven-day-average is 6.92% as of Tuesday’s data, up from 6.66% on Monday.
Testing continues to increase in the state with 26,400 new tests conducted on Tuesday.
As of Tuesday, here are total tests conducted in each county:
Dallas County: 119,358
Tarrant County: 72,170
Collin County: 31,518
Denton County: 29,458
Tarrant County reports 225 new cases
Tarrant County health officials reported 225 new cases and one new death related to COVID-19 Thursday afternoon. The Hurst man had underlying health conditions, officials said.
The new data brings the total in the county to 6,824 cases and the deaths to 190.
Denton County reports 33 new cases
Denton County Public Health announced 33 new laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases Thursday. This increases the countywide total 1,632 cases.
DCPH also reported 98 more people had recovered from the virus.
DCPH is hosting free drive-thru testing center in Carrollton on Friday, June 12. It will be held at Creekview High School at 3201 Old Denton Road from 8 a.m. to noon.
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