Dallas County Reports a Total of 1,619 New Positive 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Cases and 19 Deaths, Including 242 Probable Cases
Posted on 12/29/2021
CityofDallas

As of 4:00 pm December 28, 2021, Dallas County Health and Human Services is reporting 1,619 additional positive cases of 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in Dallas County, 1,377 confirmed cases, and 242 probable cases. There is a cumulative total of 358,807 confirmed cases (PCR test). There is a cumulative total of 66,889 probable cases (antigen test). A total of 5,488 Dallas County residents have lost their lives due to COVID-19 illness. Today's report includes data received on Thursday, December 23rd. Tomorrow's reporting will include data from Friday the 24th through Tuesday the 28th.

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 Tuesdays - Saturdays from 9 am-6 pm; however, the location is closed through January 3rd due to the holidays. A weekly pop-up vaccination clinic takes place at Fair Park on Sundays, from 10 am - 4 pm, and resumes on January 2, 2022.

The additional deaths being reported today include the following:

  • A woman in her 30's who was a resident of the City of Dallas. She had been critically ill in an area hospital and did not have underlying high-risk health conditions.
  • A man in his 30'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 40's who was a resident of the City of Rowlett. He had been critically ill in an area hospital and had underlying high-risk health conditions.
  • 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 did not have underlying high-risk health conditions.
  • A man in his 40'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.
  • A woman in her 40's who was a resident of the City of Balch Springs. She had been critically ill in an area hospital and had underlying high-risk health conditions.
  • A man in his 50's was a resident of the City of Garland. He was found deceased at home and had underlying high-risk health conditions.
  • A man in his 50'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 50'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 60's who was a resident of the City of Garland. 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 Garland. She had been hospitalized 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 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 hospitalized and had underlying high-risk health conditions.
  • A man in his 80's who was a resident of the City of Sachse. He expired in hospice 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 hospitalized and had underlying high-risk health conditions.
  • A woman in her 80's who was a resident of the City of Dallas. 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 Dallas. She 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 Mesquite. He had been hospitalized and had underlying high-risk health conditions.

To date, a total of 542 cases with SARS-CoV-2 variants have been identified and investigated in residents of Dallas County, including 148 cases of B.1.1.7 (Alpha); 4 cases of B.1.351 (Beta); 344 cases of B.1.617.2 (Delta); 11 cases of B.1.427 (Epsilon); 19 cases of P.1 (Gamma); 9 cases of B.1.526 (Iota); 4 cases of C.37 (Lambda); 1 case of B.1.621 (Mu); 1 case of B.1.1.529 (Omicron); and 1 case of P.2 (Zeta). One hundred and 10 cases have been hospitalized and 9 have died. Eight COVID-19 variant cases were reinfections. One hundred and twenty-three people were considered fully vaccinated before infection with a COVID-19 variant.

As of 12/22/2021, a total of 3,308 confirmed and probable cases were reported in CDC week 50 (week ending 12/18/21), which is a weekly rate of 125.5 new cases per 100,000 residents. As of the week ending 12/18/2021, about 77% of Dallas County residents age 12 years and older have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine, including 96% of residents age 65 years and older; 83% of residents between 40-64 years of age; 73% of residents 25-39 years of age; 62% of residents 18-24 years of age; and 57% 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 Desoto, Farmers Branch, Garland, and University Park, greater than 80% of residents 18 years of age and older have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine. (See below)

About 68.0% of COVID-19 cases diagnosed in Week 50 were Dallas County residents who were not fully vaccinated. In Dallas County, 21,890 cases of COVID-19 breakthrough COVID-19 infections in fully vaccinated inpiduals have been confirmed to date, of which 779 (3.6%) were hospitalized and 208 have died due to COVID-19. Of all Dallas County residents tested for COVID-19 by PCR during the week ending 12/18/2021 (CDC week 50), 10.8% of respiratory specimens tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. For week 50, 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 (5.5%), rhinovirus/enterovirus (40.4%) and RSV (5.0%).

There are currently 25 active long-term care facility outbreaks. A cumulative total of 4,935 residents and 2,912 healthcare workers in long-term facilities in Dallas have been diagnosed with COVID-19. Of these, 1,203 have been hospitalized and 851 have died. About 16% of all deaths reported to date have been associated with long-term care facilities. There have been 6 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 767 residents and 263 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 inpatientsCovid -19 VisitsICU Beds

Find a COVID-19 Vaccine Near You

"The numbers for today are doubling the numbers from our last reported day before Christmas of 874 cases on December 23, which was an 82% increase of the day before. COVID is now spreading rapidly again and for this reason, the Public Health Committee recommends a return to the "Red" risk level. The recommendations for safer activities under Red will be updated later this evening and can be found at https://www.dallascounty.org/covid-19/guidance-health.php.

It is important that we all do all that we can to protect against the spread of the Omicron variant. We now know that two of our three monoclonal antibody treatments are ineffective against the Omicron variant. Prevention through vaccination and modifying behaviors remain our most effective tools against severe disease and hospitalization. Although we still have people in the hospital sick due to the Delta variant, the percentage of cases that are Omicron is increasing steadily. The lack of an available effective antibody treatment against the Omicron variant for hospitalized patients is another reason to get boosted as soon as possible. Although tests are hard to come by presently, and so is the remaining effective monoclonal antibody, shots for boosters or first or second doses are readily available near you. Go to www.vaccines.org to make your appointment.

If you get your booster today, you'll have full protection from it in two weeks and some protection from it soon after taking it. We are currently in the beginning of the Omicron wave, and it is not too late for you to get boosted, or get vaccinated. If you're unvaccinated or vaccinated and eligible for your booster, you will have different requirements for quarantining after an exposure.

It's very important that you wear your mask. Cloth masks, like the ones frequently seen with a message or words on them, or the name of a designer, have proven to be much less effective against COVID. Most cloth masks come with a slit for you to put a filter in, but people rarely use the filter or buy replacements. It's important that we mask during this time of high spread. A surgical mask, like the kind worn by a doctor in a doctor's office, or better still an N95 mask, is your best defense against spreading COVID. Make sure your mask is well fitted and sealed at all points around your face.

Since testing capacity is currently strained and some inpiduals may be asymptomatic and not seek testing, inpiduals with COVID may be unaware they are even sick and capable of spreading the virus. It's important that we all wear our mask when in indoor settings outside our own home or in outdoor settings where six-foot distancing on all sides cannot be accomplished. Now is the time to make good, smart decisions about how you wish to run your office, do your shopping, or celebrate the new year.

To the extent possible, remote work would be wise. Employers like to have employees in the office, but with Omicron capable of spreading to fully vaccinated people, it may be the lesser of two evils to work from home, rather than having Omicron shutdown the workplace for an extended period of time. Likewise for shopping, using curbside pickup and delivery is important now. And with our celebrations for New Years, celebrating with our household, rather than with large groups of people even in outdoor settings, is the recommended course. This new surge of Omicron comes at a bad time for all of us, but I've seen North Texas rise to the challenge and I'm confident we will do it again. I and my team will be working hard for you, and are humbled with your faith in us. Have a very happy and safe New Year," 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: