Dallas County Reports a Three-Day Total of 711 New Positive 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Cases and 5 Deaths, Including 203 Probable Cases
Posted on 03/23/2022
C-19 Risklevel Newnormal

As of 12:00 pm March 22, 2022, Dallas County Health and Human Services is reporting 711 additional positive cases of 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in Dallas County, 508 confirmed cases, and 203 probable cases. There is a cumulative total of 474, 349 confirmed cases (PCR test). There is a cumulative total of 101,958 probable cases (antigen test). A total of 6,177 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.

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. 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 50s who was a resident of the City of Dallas. He was found deceased at home and had underlying high-risk health conditions.
  • A man in his 50s who was a resident of the City of Grand Prairie. He was found deceased at home and had underlying high-risk health conditions.
  • A man in his 60s who was a resident of a long-term care facility in the City of Dallas. He expired in hospice and had underlying high-risk health conditions.
  • A man in his 60s 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 70s who was a resident of the City of Garland. She had been hospitalized and did not have underlying high-risk health conditions.

To date, a total of 1,830 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); 1,440 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); 174 cases of B.1.1.529 (Omicron); and 1 case of P.2 (Zeta). Three hundred and twenty-two cases have been hospitalized and 47 have died. Thirty COVID-19 variant cases were reinfections. Four hundred and seventy-nine people were considered fully vaccinated before infection with a COVID-19 variant.

As of 3/11/2022, a total of 585 confirmed and probable cases were reported in CDC week 9 (week ending 3/5/22), which is a weekly rate of 22.2 new cases per 100,000 residents.

As of the week ending 3/5/2022, about 81% 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; 78% of residents 25-39 years of age; 67% 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 92% 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.

Of all Dallas County residents tested for COVID-19 by PCR during the week ending 3/5/2022 (CDC week 9), 3.9% of respiratory specimens tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. For week 9, 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 (2.41%), rhinovirus/enterovirus (37.29%), and RSV (2.5%).

There are currently 41 active long-term care facility outbreaks. A cumulative total of 6,402 residents and 4,317 healthcare workers in long-term facilities in Dallas have been diagnosed with COVID-19. Of these, 1,310 have been hospitalized and 888 have died. About 16% of all deaths reported to date have been associated with long-term care facilities.

There have been 4 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 840 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

"With Congress unable to break the stalemate to continue paying for uninsured vaccine, testing and treatment, it is more important now than ever that you get your vaccine quickly to avoid potential charges for vaccine in the future. I met with Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Congress Colin Allred today to discuss the urgency of continuing with the funding of PCR testing and treatment for uninsured Americans. We agreed that now is not the time for Congress to let up on helping the uninsured get vaccinated, boosted, tested, and treated. We could see another large outbreak in the future, and it's very important that we continue to provide free testing, vaccine and treatment to help every resident of this country have their best chance to keep themselves their community and all of us safe. North Texas has the largest has the largest uninsured population in the nation due to our state's refusal to accept Texas's portion of the Medicaid expansion money, which would add $10 billion to state revenues and ensure to more than 2 million people. If this group cannot get testing and free vaccine, we all will pay a heavy price in the next outbreak," 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: