Dallas County reports 234 new coronavirus cases, 9 deaths

New coronavirus cases in Dallas County declined for the third straight day Wednesday, with 234 positive tests reported.

After posting 30 deaths Tuesday, the county added nine more, including two Dallas men in their 50s who did not have underlying health problems.

The other fatalities included three more Dallas residents: a woman in her 60s and a man and a woman in their 70s. A Garland man in his 30s and a DeSoto woman, Irving woman and Duncanville man, all in their 70s, also died.

Jenkins said testing at city and county-run testing sites has declined about 40%.

“The lines are short and the turnaround times have improved, so if you need testing, please get it,” he said.

Although cases have trended downward in Dallas County, health officials said COVID-19 hospitalizations remain high, with 494 reported Tuesday. Emergency-room visits for symptoms of the virus — 502 — represented about 22% of all visits, officials said.

“While COVID-19 hospitalizations are down near levels last seen in late June, the trajectory of decline is much slower than the trajectory of the July to August increase,” the county said in a news release. “As confirmed cases increase, hospitalizations can and will increase more rapidly.”

There are 7,028 people hospitalized with the virus in Texas, with 1,229 in Dallas-Fort Worth, according to the Department of State Health Services.

Statewide, Texas reported 324 new deaths and 6,200 cases Wednesday. The state’s totals are now at 506,820 coronavirus cases, 9,034 deaths and an estimated 367,354 recoveries, according to the department.

Dallas County has confirmed 794 COVID-19 deaths and 55,787 cases, or about 21.2 for every 1,000 residents. The county does not report recoveries.

Additionally, the county reported 88 new probable cases of the virus, for a total of 2,360, including seven probable deaths. Dallas County counts probable cases separately and does not include them in its confirmed case totals.

Jenkins said that when there is an outbreak of the virus, “the numbers shoot up quickly, but they come down slowly.”

“The good trends that we’re seeing can quickly change if only a few of us decide to do things that are not recommended by the doctors,” Jenkins said, reinforcing the need for people to wear masks in public and avoid unnecessary trips outside the home.

Tarrant County

The county reported seven new COVID-19 deaths and 405 new cases Wednesday.

Four Fort Worth residents were among the fatalities: three men in their 50s, 80s and 90s and a woman in her 60s. The others who died were an Arlington woman in her 50s, and two women from Azle and Mansfield who were in their 90s. The Fort Worth man in his 90s was the only one who didn’t have an underlying health condition.

Tarrant County now has 434 deaths and 34,774 cases, or about 16.5 for every 1,000 residents. Of the cases, 1,704 are probable.

COVID-19 hospitalizations are at 417, and 24,270 people have recovered, according to county data.

Collin County

The county reported 269 coronavirus cases and no new deaths Wednesday. The county’s toll remains at 93.

Collin County’s COVID-19 case total rose to 8,313, or about eight for every 1,000 residents.

Hospitalizations for the virus are at 147, and there have been 5,270 recoveries, according to county data.

Denton County

The county saw seven new COVID-19 deaths and 92 new cases Wednesday, according to data on the county’s website.

The latest numbers raise the county’s totals to 73 deaths and 7,959 cases, or about nine for every 1,000 residents.

Fifty people are hospitalized with the virus and 4,977 have recovered, according to county data.

The county announced free drive-through testing Friday at the University of North Texas’ Discovery Park, 3940 N. Elm St. Pre-registration is required by calling 940-349-2585. Appointments begin at 8 a.m. Residents must have had symptoms within the last week, be an essential employee, be over the age of 60, or have had contact with someone with COVID-19.

Other counties

The Texas Department of State Health Services has taken over reporting for other North Texas counties. Some of them may not report updates each day. The latest numbers are:

• Rockwall County: 1,036 cases, 18 deaths.
• Kaufman County: 2,321 cases, 27 deaths.
• Ellis County: 3,218 cases, 48 deaths.
• Johnson County: 2,037 cases, 31 deaths.

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