Dallas County Reports Three-Day Total of 4,417 New Positive 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Cases and 4 Deaths, Including 668 Probable Cases
Posted on 08/18/2021
City of Dallas

As of 3:00 pm August 17, 2021, Dallas County Health and Human Services is reporting 4,417 additional positive cases of 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in Dallas County, 3,749 confirmed cases, and 668 probable cases. There is a cumulative total of 287,331 confirmed cases (PCR test). There is a cumulative total of 48,192 probable cases (antigen test). A total of 4,251 Dallas County residents have lost their lives due to COVID-19 illness.

Today's press release includes the number 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. According to the Texas Department of State Health Services, as of August 17, 74.80% of individuals 65 and older are fully vaccinated in Dallas County.

The additional deaths being reported today include the following:

  • A man in his 40'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 50'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 man in his 60's who was a resident of the City of Mesquite. He had been critically ill in an area hospital and had underlying high-risk health conditions.

To date, a total of 198 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; twenty-nine 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 31 (week ending 8/7/21) was 949, which is a rate of 36.0 daily new cases per 100,000 residents.

As of the week ending 8/7/2021, about 62% 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; 70% of residents between 40-64 years of age; 57% of residents 25-39 years of age; 47% of residents 18-24 years of age; and 39% 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, about 80% of residents 18 years of age and older have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine

About 84% of COVID-19 cases diagnosed in Week 31 were Dallas County residents who were not fully vaccinated. In Dallas County, 4,345 cases of COVID-19 breakthrough COVID-19 infections in fully vaccinated individuals have been confirmed to date, of which 151 (3.5%) were hospitalized and 21 have died due to COVID-19. Of all Dallas County residents tested for COVID-19 by PCR during the week ending 8/7/2021 (CDC week 31), 16.9% of respiratory specimens tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. For week 31, 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 (5.4%), rhinovirus/enterovirus (23%), and RSV (30%).

There are currently 45 active long-term care facility outbreaks. A cumulative total of 4,430 residents and 2,531 healthcare workers in long-term facilities in Dallas have been diagnosed with COVID-19. Of these, 1,134 have been hospitalized and 820 have died. About 20% of all deaths reported to date have been associated with long-term care facilities. There have been eight 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 646 residents and 228 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 VisitsCovid 19 ICU Beds

Find a COVID-19 Vaccine Near You

"Today we report 4,417 positive cases and 3 additional deaths. Keep in mind this is a 3-day total from Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. Our numbers are escalating and the amount of space available at hospitals is extremely tight. We can't all do everything, but we can all do something. It's team human versus the virus and we all need to be on team human. If you've already been vaccinated, wear your mask indoors and encourage your unvaccinated friends to get vaccinated. Please approach them in a spirit of respect and equality when hearing their concerns and telling them your story as to why you chose to get vaccinated. If you're unvaccinated please consider the danger of the new Delta variant, not only to you but to those you care about and our economy. Get answers to your questions and talk to your loved ones who have already been vaccinated. Join the vaccinated, gaining the protection for you and the people that you care about. Also, please wear your mask indoors when outside your home. This is particularly important if you are unvaccinated and for your unvaccinated children under 12 as this variant is very contagious, potentially more than the chickenpox pre-chickenpox vaccine. If you are unvaccinated, it's not a matter of if you'll get COVID, but when. There is much that we do not know about COVID and its long-term effects but what we do know is not positive. On the other hand, we know the vaccine is extremely safe and effective, has been out now for over 9 months and there have not been serious side effects. I believe in the spirit of North Texas and I know together, if we all do our part, we will defeat COVID," 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: