Updated at 5:41 p.m. with Dallas County cases and comments from county Judge Clay Jenkins.
Tarrant County health officials reported 517 new confirmed cases of the coronavirus on Thursday. In Dallas County, 403 new cases were reported.
Dallas County officials have also reported six additional deaths due to the disease.
Thursday's Tarrant County number is a record high for single-day cases reported in North Texas. In the past two weeks, the region has seen spikes in the number of new COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations for the disease.
In Dallas County, health officials have noted the spread of the disease among child care facilities.
More than 31 cases reported since June 1 have been linked to 18 child care centers.
"We are beginning to see more spread amongst children in daycare and young people who attend bars or work in the service industries," Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins said in a written statement.
During a Thursday afternoon news conference, Jenkins again urged Gov. Greg Abbott to allow local leaders to impose stricter restrictions and requirements to curb the spread of the disease.
The county judge said he's concerned with the number of people under 40 who have contracted COVID-19 in June. He said many have been going out to bars or work in the service industry.
"Folks, do we really need to go to a bar right now?" Jenkins asked. And then added, "Please stay out of the bar."
"A lot of young people are more social, so they're going out with friends," he said.
One of the problems with bars and indoor dining, Jenkins said, is it's not possible to wear a mask while imbibing or eating.
Jenkins also encouraged leaders in surrounding counties to adopt mask mandates to help slow the spread of the disease.
On Thursday, Tarrant County officials announced a new mandate making businesses require customers and employees to wear masks. The order goes into effect at 6 p.m. Friday.
Tarrant County officials said wearing a mask is one of the best ways to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
The county has reported 10,363 COVID-19 cases since tracking began in March. In the past seven days, the county has recorded more than 2,200 new cases.
There are more than 4,400 actives cases of the disease in Tarrant County, according to state data. Dallas County has more than 5,700 active cases.
Both counties fall behind Harris County, which has a reported 14,000 active coronavirus cases, state data shows.
Collin and Denton counties have each reported about 1,000 recoveries from each county's approximately 2,500 total cases reported since tracking began.
On Thursday, Collin County reported 37 new daily cases and one additional death due to COVID-19. Denton County reported 77 new daily coronavirus cases.
More than 1,100 people with coronavirus are hospitalized in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
More on WFAA:
- COVID-19 updates: Gov. Abbott pauses new phases of reopening Texas due to increased cases, hospitalizations
- MAP: These are the confirmed COVID-19 cases in the Dallas-Fort Worth area
- Bexar County judge involved in altercation over mask order, sheriff's office says
- Gov. Abbott issues order that suspends elective surgeries in Harris, Bexar, Dallas, Travis counties