Coronavirus cases and hospitalizations continue to rise across Dallas-Fort Worth and the state — with some metrics spiking to levels not seen since winter.
On Monday, Dallas County reported 406 new COVID-19 cases. On Saturday, Tarrant County reported 966. Both numbers were the largest one-day totals in the counties since February.
Dallas County has averaged 213 new cases per day over the past two weeks, more than double the 97 it averaged during the previous two-week period.
The state reported 22,870 cases over the past week — nearly double the 12,745 cases reported the previous week.
“It indicates that the virus is not under control,” said Dr. Catherine Troisi, an infectious-disease epidemiologist at the UTHealth School of Public Health. “We may be looking at a fourth wave, and this is preventable.”
North Texas coronavirus hospitalizations this fall could surpass levels from summer 2020 if the current behavior and vaccination pace continue, according to a forecasting model published last week by the UT Southwestern Medical Center.
The University of Texas COVID-19 modeling consortium also projects that daily COVID-19 hospitalizations in North Texas will surpass levels from last summer, with a median projection of 3,274 hospitalizations on Aug. 13. On the same day last summer, 1,200 hospitalizations were reported.
As of Monday, 236 people were hospitalized with COVID-19 in Dallas County, according to the North Central Texas Trauma Regional Advisory Council. In the North Texas region, there are 813 hospitalizations, and there are 3,046 statewide. All three are at their highest level since March.
But while infections and hospitalizations have been increasing, Dallas County — along with the rest of the state — has seen the demand for vaccines continue to slow. Last week, about 25,000 doses were administered to Dallas County residents, the fewest since the first week of the year.
The county’s mass vaccination site at Fair Park closed Saturday after traffic dropped off over the past few months.
In a White House news briefing Friday, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, said the message sent by increasing cases, deaths and hospital admissions is clear.
“This is becoming a pandemic of the unvaccinated,” Walensky said.
Although there are “breakthrough” cases in people who are vaccinated, such as several Texas Democrats in Washington, D.C., the majority of new cases are among people who aren’t.
During the week ending July 10, 82% of cases diagnosed in Dallas County residents were among people not fully vaccinated, according to the county.
Health officials say that people can help bring the numbers back down by getting vaccinated and taking the same preventative measures they have been employing throughout the pandemic, including wearing masks, social distancing and washing hands regularly.
“I think the most important thing is, we as individuals have full control over determining how high this wave will go and how long it’ll last,” said Dr. Mujeeb Basit, associate director of UTSW’s clinical informatics center.
Dallas County
In the past week, Dallas County reported 13 more COVID-19 deaths and 1,764 new coronavirus cases.
Of those cases, 1,365 were confirmed and 399 were probable. The numbers bring the county’s overall case total to 309,851, including 265,548 confirmed and 44,303 probable. The death toll is 4,161.
The county also has had 1,338 “breakthrough” cases in fully vaccinated individuals as of Monday.
As of Monday, 1,301,993 people in Dallas County have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, while 1,115,162 — 51.1% of the county’s population 12 and older — are fully vaccinated.
Texas
Of the 22,780 cases reported over the past week, 17,060 were confirmed cases and 5,720 were probable cases.
The state also reported 162 COVID-19 deaths over the past week, raising its toll to 51,652.
The state’s case total is now 3,030,342, including 2,577,197 confirmed and 453,145 probable.
According to the state, 14,330,172 people in Texas have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, while 12,390,267 — 51.5% of the state’s population 12 and older — are fully vaccinated.
Tarrant County
Tarrant County reported nine deaths and 2,935 cases over the past week.
Of the new cases, 2,190 were confirmed and 745 were probable.
The numbers bring the county’s case total to 267,435, including 223,071 confirmed and 44,364 probable. The death toll is 3,607.
The county reported that 278 people were hospitalized with the virus.
According to the state, 969,668 people in Tarrant County have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, while 859,529 — 49.4% of the county’s population 12 and older — are fully vaccinated.
Collin County
The state added one death and 444 cases to Collin County’s totals over the past week.
Of the new cases, 227 were confirmed and 217 were probable. The numbers bring the county’s case total to 94,142, including 76,703 confirmed and 17,439 probable. The death toll is 855.
The county reported that 125 people were hospitalized with the virus.
According to the state, 594,987 people in Collin County have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, while 528,925 — 61.1%% of the county’s population 12 and older — are fully vaccinated.
Denton County
Denton County reported four deaths and 546 cases over the past week.
The newly reported cases bring the county’s case total to 78,102, including 57,089 confirmed and 21,013 probable. The death toll is 628.
The county reported that 36 people were hospitalized with the virus.
According to the state, 464,165 people in Denton County have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, while 413,310 — 55.1% of the county’s population 12 and older — are fully vaccinated.
Other counties
The Texas Department of State Health Services has taken over reporting for these other North Texas counties. The latest numbers are:
- Rockwall County: 12,123 cases (9,593 confirmed and 2,530 probable), 159 deaths.
- Kaufman County: 16,726 cases (13,775 confirmed and 2,951 probable), 268 deaths.
- Ellis County: 23,270 cases (19,062 confirmed and 4,208 probable), 325 deaths.
- Johnson County: 20,348 cases (17,152 confirmed and 3,196 probable), 380 deaths.
