Dallas County reports fourth-deadliest week of pandemic as daily average cases increase

Confirmed cases of COVID-19 rose above 58,000 in Dallas County on Saturday morning, with a week in which the average daily count exceeded by a third last week.

With 73 reported deaths, it was also the province’s fourth deadliest week to date, Dallas County Health and Human Services reported. There have been a total of 824 deaths.

As of 11 a.m. Saturday, officials had added 754 more positive cases of COVID-19 to those reported Friday, raising the daily average for the week to 605. Last week’s daily average was 463.

In all, the province has reported 58,067 confirmed cases of the coronavirus since the pandemic began.

The death toll counted close to 10,000 from the coronavirus around Saturday, with 238 deaths bringing the total to 9,840.

The Texas Department of State Health Services said the number of reported cases increased by 8,245 to 528,838. The true number of cases is likely to be higher because many people are not infected, and studies suggest that people may become infected and not feel sick.

State health officials said Saturday that 6,481 people with COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus, were hospitalized. The number of hospitalizations has declined since peaking in July at 10,893, and the number of newly reported cases is shrinking.

Dallas County officials also reported eight more deaths Saturday. She embraced a Dallas man in the 1950s; a husband of Cedar Hill and a wife of Irving, both in their 60s; a Dallas man and a Garland man, both in their 70s; a man in the 1980s who lived in a long-term facility in Grand Prairie; and a man and a woman, both in their 90s, who lived in long-term care facilities in Dallas.

All eight had underlying health conditions, and all were hospitalized, except the man in his 80s, who died in hospice care.

“We’re having the hottest part of the summer, and this is a tough summer for all of us,” Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins said. “We need to keep everyone focused on COVID-safe, and the best way to do that is to practice good self-care and find things that make you laugh.”

Tarrant County officials reported a spike of 1,443 new cases Saturday. According to the Fort Worth Star Telegram, the increase in cases is due to a reported backlog at the Texas Department of State Health Services. The province also expects to report an increase in repairs over the next few days.

Saturday’s numbers bring the province’s total cases to 37,072. Tarrant County also reported 451 total deaths, although no new deaths have been reported since Wednesday.

A day after reporting 1,175 new cases of coronavirus, Collin County officials reported 395 new cases on Saturday. The province announced Friday that reported numbers over the next several days could fluctuate due to a backlog of cases released at the state level.

The province has now reported 10,007 confirmed cases, including 5,364 total reimbursements. According to Collin County, 132 people are hospitalized for COVID-19, while there have been 98 total deaths.

Denton County announced 86 new cases of coronavirus on Saturday, and no new deaths.

The province has now recorded 8,300 cases, including 82 total deaths. There are 2,845 active cases in the province, and 5,373 refunds.

Rockwall County announced free drive-through coronavirus mouth-swab testing from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at Fate City Hall, 1900 CD Boren Pkwy.

Anyone can be tested, and results are expected in three to five days. Appointments are required. Visit texas.curativeinc.com/welcome.

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

• Rockwall County: 1,105 cases, 15 deaths
• Kaufman County: 2,446 cases, 30 deaths
• Ellis County: 3,255 cases, 50 deaths
• Johnson County: 2,159 cases, 33 deaths

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Correction 16 August at 18:06: An earlier version of this story stated that Collin County reported 403 new cases of coronavirus. The correct number is 395 cases.

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