Dallas County Reports a Total of 383 New Positive 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Cases and 9 Deaths, Including 92 Probable Cases
Posted on 02/18/2022
CityofDallas

As of 12:00 pm February 17, 2022, Dallas County Health and Human Services is reporting 383 additional positive cases of 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in Dallas County, 291 confirmed cases, and 92 probable cases. There is a cumulative total of 464,218 confirmed cases (PCR test). There is a cumulative total of 97,914 probable cases (antigen test). A total of 5,911 Dallas County residents have lost their lives due to COVID-19 illness.

Covid -19 Risklevel

Dallas County Health and Human Services (DCHHS) provided more than 500,000 total doses of COVID-19 vaccine at the Fair Park mega-vaccine clinic, which operated from January 11 through July 17. A vaccination clinic is open at the Dallas College Eastfield Campus Location on Thursdays - Saturdays from 9 am-6 pm, and on Sundays from 10 am - 4 pm. A weekly pop-up vaccination clinic will also take place at Fair Park on Tuesdays from 12:30 pm-6 pm and on Sundays, from 10 am - 4 pm.

The additional deaths being reported today include the following:

  • A man in his 50's who was a resident of the City of Dallas. He was found deceased at home and had underlying high-risk health conditions.
  • A woman in her 50's who was a resident of the City of Mesquite. She had been critically ill in an area hospital and had underlying high-risk health conditions.
  • A woman in her 60's who was a resident of the City of Dallas. She expired in hospice and had underlying high-risk health conditions.
  • A man in his 60's who was a resident of the City of Dallas. He had been critically ill in an area hospital and had underlying high-risk health conditions.
  • A woman in her 70's who was a resident of a long-term care facility in the City of Lancaster. She expired in hospice and had underlying high-risk health conditions.
  • A man in his 70's who was a resident of the City of Rowlett. He had been hospitalized and had underlying high-risk health conditions.
  • A woman in her 70's who was a resident of the City of Richardson. She had been hospitalized and had underlying high-risk health conditions.
  • A man in his 80's who was a resident of the City of Dallas. He had been critically ill in an area hospital and had underlying high-risk health conditions.
  • A man in his 90's who was a resident of the City of Dallas. He had been critically ill in an area hospital and had underlying high-risk health conditions.

To date, a total of 1,288 cases with SARS-CoV-2 variants have been identified and investigated in residents of Dallas County, including 162 cases of B.1.1.7 (Alpha); 4 cases of B.1.351 (Beta); 1,052 cases of B.1.617.2 (Delta); 14 cases of B.1.427 (Epsilon); 20 cases of P.1 (Gamma); 9 cases of B.1.526 (Iota); 4 cases of C.37 (Lambda); 2 cases of B.1.621 (Mu); 20 cases of B.1.1.529 (Omicron); and 1 case of P.2 (Zeta). Two hundred and forty-eight cases have been hospitalized and 39 have died. Nineteen COVID-19 variant cases were reinfections. Three hundred and sixteen people were considered fully vaccinated before infection with a COVID-19 variant. As of 2/11/2022, a total of'5,049'confirmed and probable cases were reported in CDC week 5 (week ending 2/5/22), which is a weekly rate of'191.6'new cases per 100,000 residents.

As of the week ending 2/10/2022, about 80% of Dallas County residents age 12 years and older have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine, including 98% of residents age 65 years and older; 86% of residents between 40-64 years of age; 77% of residents 25-39 years of age; 66% of residents 18-24 years of age; and 61% of residents 12-17 years of age. In the cities of Addison, Coppell, Highland Park, Irving, and Sunnyvale, greater than 90% of residents 18 years of age and older have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. In the cities of Cedar Hill, Desoto, Farmers Branch, Garland, Lancaster, and University Park, greater than 80% of residents 18 years of age and older have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. (See below).

About 57.7% of COVID-19 cases diagnosed in Week 5 were Dallas County residents who were not fully vaccinated. In Dallas County, 31,294 cases of COVID-19 breakthrough COVID-19 infections in fully vaccinated inpiduals have been confirmed to date, of which 2,911 (9.3%) were hospitalized and 462 have died due to COVID-19.

Of all Dallas County residents tested for COVID-19 by PCR during the week ending 2/5/2022 (CDC week 5),'21.7%'of respiratory specimens tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. For week 5, area hospital labs have continued to report elevated numbers and proportions of respiratory specimens that are positive for other respiratory viruses by molecular tests: parainfluenza (3.33%), rhinovirus/enterovirus (28.6%), and RSV (3.08%).

There are currently 91 active long-term care facility outbreaks. A cumulative total of 6,177 residents and 4,169 healthcare workers in long-term facilities in Dallas have been diagnosed with COVID-19. Of these, 1,276 have been hospitalized and 873 have died. About 16% of all deaths reported to date have been associated with long-term care facilities.

There have been 12 outbreaks of COVID-19 in a congregate-living facility (e.g. homeless shelters, group homes, and halfway homes) reported within the past 30 days. A cumulative total of 844 residents and 295 staff members in congregate-living facilities in Dallas have been diagnosed with COVID-19. New cases are being reported as a daily aggregate, with more detailed data dashboards and summary reports updated on Friday evenings, available at:'https://www.dallascounty.org/departments/dchhs/2019-novel-coronavirus/daily-updates.php.

Local health experts use hospitalizations, ICU admissions, and ER visits as three of the key indicators as part of determining the COVID-19 Risk Level (color-coded risk) and corresponding guidelines for activities during our COVID-19 response. The most recent COVID-19 hospitalization data for Dallas County, as reported to the North Central Texas Trauma Regional Advisory Council, can be found at'www.dallascounty.org/covid-19'under "Monitoring Data," and is updated regularly. This data includes information on the total available ICU beds, suspected and confirmed COVID-19 ER visits in the last 24 hours, confirmed COVID-19 inpatients, and COVID-19 deaths by actual date of death. The most recent forecasting from UTSW can be found'here.

Actual DeathCovid 19 ImpatientsCovid 19 VisitsICU Beds

Find a COVID-19 Vaccine Near You

"Our numbers continue to decline but are still high compared to where they were pre Omicron. We remain at the red threat level. The public health committee meets tomorrow and should there be a change in that I will get the information out to you as soon as possible. But for now, keep doing the things you need to do to stay safe: get vaccinated, get boosted, wear your mask indoors when outside your own home, and keep a good distance from others," said Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins.

All Dallas County COVID-19 Updates and Information can be found here: https://www.dallascounty.org/covid-19/ and all guidance documents can be found here: https://www.dallascounty.org/covid-19/guidance-health.php
Specific Guidance for the Public:

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends taking everyday preventive actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory diseases, including:

  • Avoid close contact outside your home: Put 6 feet of distance between yourself and people who don't live in your household.
  • Cover your mouth and nose with a cloth face cover when around others and continue to keep about 6 feet between yourself and others. The cloth face cover is not a substitute for social distancing.
  • Stay home when you are sick, except to seek medical care
  • Wash your hands often and with soap and water for at least 20 seconds and help young children to do the same. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
    Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces daily using a regular household cleaning spray or wipes.
  • Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash. If you do not have a tissue, use your sleeve, not your hands. Immediately wash your hands.
  • Monitor your health daily. Be alert for symptoms. Take your temperature and follow CDC guidance if symptoms develop.

Additional information is available at the following websites: