Dallas County Reports 1,302 New Positive 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Cases and 8 Deaths, Including 382 Probable Cases
Posted on 08/24/2021
City of Dallas

As of 3:00 pm, August 23, 2021, Dallas County Health and Human Services is reporting 1,302 additional positive cases of 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in Dallas County, 920 confirmed cases, and 382 probable cases. There is a cumulative total of 290,954 confirmed cases (PCR test). There is a cumulative total of 49,290 probable cases (antigen test). A total of 4,280 Dallas County residents have lost their lives due to COVID-19 illness. Today's press release includes the new case totals accumulated from Friday. Tomorrow's press release will include the numbers of new cases from Saturday, Sunday, and Monday.

Covid 19 Risk Level

High Risk Transmission

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 January 11 through July 17. A pop-up vaccination clinic at Fair Park will take place on Saturdays through September 18, from 8 am - 2 pm in Lot 13 for Pfizer first and second doses.

The additional deaths being reported today include the following:

  • A woman in her 40's who was a resident of the City of Desoto. She had been critically ill in an area hospital and had underlying high-risk health conditions.
  • A woman in her 50's who was a resident of the City of Grand Prairie. She had been critically ill in an area hospital and had underlying high-risk health conditions.
    - A man in his 50's who was a resident of the City of Balch Springs. He had been critically ill in
    an area hospital and had underlying high-risk health conditions.
  • A man in his 50's who was a resident of the City of Garland. He had been critically ill in an area hospital and had underlying high-risk health conditions.
  • A man in his 70's who was a resident of the City of University Park. 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 the City of Dallas. She 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 the City of Irving. She had been hospitalized and had underlying high-risk health conditions.
  • A woman in her 90's who was a resident of the City of Glenn Heights. She had been critically ill in an area hospital and had underlying high-risk health conditions.

To date, a total of 201 cases with SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern have been identified in residents of Dallas County, including 146 cases of B.1.1.7 (Alpha) variants; three B.1.351 (Beta) variants; thirty-two B.1.617.2 (Delta) variants; and twenty P.1 (Gamma) variants. Twenty-one have been hospitalized and three have died. One fully vaccinated patient subsequently became ill from B.1.1.7 infection and died. The provisional seven-day average of daily new confirmed and probable cases (by date of test collection) for CDC week 32 (week ending 8/14/21) was 1,118, which is a rate of 42.2 daily new cases per 100,000 residents.

As of the week ending 8/14/2021, about 64% of Dallas County residents age 12 years and older have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine, including 86% of residents age 65 years and older; 71% of residents between 40-64 years of age; 59% of residents 25-39 years of age; 48% of residents 18-24 years of age; and 43% of residents 12-17 years of age. In the cities of Coppell and Sunnyvale, greater than 88% of residents 18 years of age and older have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine. In the cities of Addison and Highland Park, greater than 80% of residents 18 years of age and older have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine. About 85% of COVID-19 cases diagnosed in Week 32 were Dallas County residents who were not fully vaccinated. In Dallas County, 5,681 cases of COVID-19 breakthrough COVID-19 infections in fully vaccinated individuals have been confirmed to date, of which 179 (3.2%) were hospitalized and 22 have died due to COVID-19.

Of all Dallas County residents tested for COVID-19 by PCR during the week ending 8/14/2021 (CDC week 32), 17.1% of respiratory specimens tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. For week 32, 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 (4.8%), rhinovirus/enterovirus (21%), and RSV (26%). There are currently 57 active long-term care facility outbreaks. A cumulative total of 4,458 residents and 2,554 healthcare workers in long-term facilities in Dallas have been diagnosed with COVID-19. Of these, 1,137 have been hospitalized and 824 have died. About 19% of all deaths reported to date have been associated with long-term care facilities.

There have been eleven 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 658 residents and 230 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.

Covid 19 Actual DeathsCovid 19 ImpatientsCovid 19 ER VisitsAvailable ICU Beds

Find a COVID-19 Vaccine Near You

"Today we report an additional 1,382 new COVID cases and 8 additional deaths. Today also marks the full approval of the Pfizer vaccine by the FDA. Never in history has a drug had such a large sample size before full approval. 200 million Americans have received their vaccine, with Pfizer being the most widely used and hundreds of millions more throughout the world. This news underscores the safety and effectiveness off the vaccine and will hopefully be the impetus for those who have not been vaccinated to get their shot. We will likely also see more businesses incentivize or require vaccines, to protect their employees, the viability of their business, and their customer base. Although the pace of vaccinations has accelerated in Dallas County during the past month, we need to see it increase even more to turn the tide against Delta. If you've already been vaccinated and have a person in your life who has not been vaccinated, with respect and openness to their views, share with them the great news of the full approval and the reasons why you decided to get vaccinated and hopefully they too can join the growing number of people protected by the vaccine"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: