Dallas County reports a record 601 new COVID-19 cases Tuesday along with 20 deaths and more hospitalizations, according to Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins.
The number of new cases marks the first time the county has exceeded 600 cases in one day and is the fifth consecutive day that the county has set a new record for new cases, surpassing the previous high of 572 cases set on Monday. The 7-day average for new cases is now 513 cases per day. On June 1, the seven-day average for new cases was 209 new cases per day.
“Today we have exceeded 600 new cases of COVID-19 for the first time, exceeding 300 cases just 20 days ago. Also, this is our deadliest day so far in the outbreak,” said Jenkins. “Twenty residents are being reported as victims of COVID-19 today, exceeding our previous high of 16 deaths.”
The increase in cases comes as the state’s range of positivity, the percentage of people who tested positive for the virus, reached nearly 15% on Sunday, a peak not seen since mid-April. An increase in the positivity range indicates an increase in the spread of the virus, not an increase in tests to detect the virus.
Instead of focusing on raw case numbers, however, Jenkins has suggested focusing on the increasing number of hospitalizations in North Texas and across the state. On Monday, the county reported an increase in hospitalizations.
“Our hospitalization figures continue to rise. Local COVID-19 hospitalizations yesterday hit a record high of 619 compared to 296 30 days ago,” Jenkins said Tuesday.
Jenkins said last week, and again on Monday, that since June 1, more than half of new reported cases have been young adults ages 18 to 39.
The county has now amassed 21,300 cases of the virus since testing began in March. There have been 373 deaths attributed to the virus in the county, which, according to Dr. Philip Huang, Dallas County Director of Health and Human Services, is now the third leading cause of death in the county behind heart disease and cancer. .
According to the Texas Department of State Health Services, an estimated 12,713 people (as of Tuesday) in the county have recovered from the virus, leaving an estimated 8,252 known patients fighting the infection.
Beginning June 19, the Dallas County Commissioners Court ordered that all customers and employees cover their faces while inside companies within Dallas County. If people refuse, the business could face a fine.
“Everyone should wear a mask 100% of the time when they are around people outside their home. Avoid unnecessary trips. Ask yourself if travel is a wish or a necessity. Make lists when you go to the supermarket to shop as little as possible and avoid in-person activities like dining and exercising indoors where you or others do not wear a mask 100% of the time, “Jenkins said Monday. “We are seeing significant growth across Texas and here in North Texas in the number of COVID-19 cases and if this trend is not reversed, it will have a very serious and negative impact on public health and our economy.”
On Sunday, Jenkins sent a letter to Texas Governor Greg Abbott (R) asking him to allow local leaders to implement stricter measures to control the spread of COVID-19.
Judge Clay Jenkins is asking Texas Governor Greg Abbott to allow local leaders to implement stricter measures to control the spread of COVID-19, as Dallas County on Sunday reported a record number of new cases of coronavirus for the third time. consecutive day.
“We are in that place where we are losing the battle,” Jenkins said Sunday. “Since May 1, we have gone from being the state in the best position because the first actions of local leaders to being the state in the most likely position to have the worst outcome for the future with COVID-19.”
To date, of the cases requiring hospitalization that reported employment, more than 80% have been critical infrastructure workers, with a wide range of occupational sectors affected, including health care, transportation, food and agriculture, public works, finance, communications, clergy, lifeguards and other essential functions.
Of the cases requiring hospitalization, two-thirds have been under the age of 65 and about half have no high-risk chronic conditions. Diabetes has been a reported high-risk underlying health condition in approximately one third of all hospitalized patients with COVID-19.
The county has been reporting for several weeks that more than a third of COVID-19 related deaths have occurred among residents of long-term care facilities.
.
