Dallas County Reports a Total of 563 New Positive 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Cases and 10 Deaths, Including 209 Probable Cases and 82 New Cases within 14 days of Specimen Collection Date
Posted on 04/18/2022
C-19 Risklevel Newnormal

As of 12:00 pm April 15, 2022, Dallas County Health and Human Services is reporting 563 additional positive cases of 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in Dallas County, 354 confirmed cases, and 209 probable cases. There is a cumulative total of 480,275 confirmed cases (PCR test). There is a cumulative total of 105,588 probable cases (antigen test). Today's report includes 82 newly reported cases of COVID-19 within 14 days of specimen collection date. A total of 6,361 Dallas County residents have lost their lives due to COVID-19 illness.

Dallas County Health and Human Services (DCHHS) provided more than 500,000 total doses of the 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 Saturdays from 9 am-6 pm. A weekly pop-up vaccination clinic will also take place at Ellis Davis Fieldhouse on Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10 am-6 pm.

The additional deaths being reported today include the following:

  • A man in his 50s who was a resident of the City of Dallas. He had been hospitalized and had underlying high-risk health conditions.
  • A woman in her 50s who was a resident of the City of Garland. She expired in a facility and had underlying high-risk health conditions.
  • A woman in her 60s who was a resident of the City of Dallas. She had been critically ill in an area hospital and had underlying high-risk health conditions.
  • A woman in her 60s who was a resident of the City of Irving. She had been hospitalized and had underlying high-risk health conditions.
  • A man in his 60s 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 70s who was a resident of the City of Dallas. She had been critically ill in an area hospital and had underlying high-risk health conditions.
  • A woman in her 70s who was a resident of the City of Garland. She had been hospitalized and had underlying high-risk health conditions.
  • A man in his 80s who was a resident of the City of Rowlett. She had been hospitalized and had underlying high-risk health conditions.
  • A woman in her 90s who was a resident of the City of Dallas. She had been hospitalized and had underlying high-risk health conditions.
  • A man in his 90s who was a resident of the City of Richardson. He had been critically ill in an area hospital and had underlying high-risk health conditions.

To date, a total of 2,448 cases with SARS-CoV-2 variants have been identified and investigated in residents of Dallas County, including 246 cases of B.1.1.7 (Alpha); 4 cases of B.1.351 (Beta); 1,810 cases of B.1.617.2 (Delta); 15 cases of B.1.427 (Epsilon); 28 cases of P.1 (Gamma); 12 cases of B.1.526 (Iota); 5 cases of C.37 (Lambda); 4 cases of B.1.621 (Mu); 323 cases of B.1.1.529 (Omicron); and 1 case of P.2 (Zeta). Four hundred and twenty-two cases have been hospitalized and 52 have died. Forty-five COVID-19 variant cases were reinfections. Seven hundred and one people were considered fully vaccinated before infection with a COVID-19 variant.

As of 4/15/2022, a total of 384 confirmed and probable cases were reported in CDC week 14 (week ending 4/9/22), which is a weekly rate of 14.6 new cases per 100,000 residents.

As of the week ending 4/9/2022, about 81% of Dallas County residents age 12 years and older have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, including 98% of residents age 65 years and older; 86% of residents between 40-64 years of age; 78% of residents 25-39 years of age; 68% of residents 18-24 years of age; and 62% of residents 12-17 years of age. In the cities of Addison, Coppell, Highland Park, Irving, and Sunnyvale, greater than 94% 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 81% of residents 18 years of age and older have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

About 45.7% of COVID-19 cases diagnosed in Week 14 were Dallas County residents who were not fully vaccinated. In Dallas County, 50,891 cases of COVID-19 breakthrough COVID-19 infections in fully vaccinated inPiduals have been confirmed to date, of which 3,936 (7.7%) were hospitalized and 679 have died due to COVID-19.

Of all Dallas County residents tested for COVID-19 by PCR during the week ending 4/9/2022 (CDC week 14), 3.0% of respiratory specimens tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. For week 14, 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 (5.39%), rhinovirus/enterovirus (32.87%), and RSV (3.0%).

There are currently 9 active long-term care facility outbreaks. A cumulative total of 6,447 residents and 4,362 healthcare workers in long-term facilities in Dallas have been diagnosed with COVID-19. Of these, 1,335 have been hospitalized and 910 have died. About 16% of all deaths reported to date have been associated with long-term care facilities.

There has been 1 outbreak 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 1,135 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. The most recent COVID-19 Data Summaries for Dallas County, TX can be found at the bottom of this page.

Find a Covid -19 Vaccine Near You

"Although our numbers are low, holiday weekends increase the chances of large crowds. If you're around immunocompromised people, consider masking in large indoor areas and consider outdoor activities to be as safe as possible. We are in in the best place we've been since COVID-19 began. And I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday weekend,"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: