Dallas County Reports Four-Day Total of 4,877 New Positive 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Cases and 14 Deaths, Including 664 Probable Cases
Posted on 09/09/2021
City of Dallas

As of 3:00 pm September 8, 2021, Dallas County Health and Human Services is reporting 4,877 additional positive cases of 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in Dallas County, 4,213 confirmed cases, and 664 probable cases. There is a cumulative total of 310,272 confirmed cases (PCR test). There is a cumulative total of 53,240 probable cases (antigen test). A total of 4,388 Dallas County residents have lost their lives due to COVID-19 illness. Due to the observance of the Labor Day holiday, Dallas County did not release COVID-19 data over the holiday weekend. Today's reporting includes data from Saturday, September 4 through Tuesday, September 7.

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 male youth in his 10's who was a resident of the City of Grand Prairie. He expired in an area ED and had underlying high-risk health conditions.
  • A man in his 30's who was a resident of the City of Mesquite. He expired in an area hospital ED and had underlying high-risk health conditions.
  • A woman in her 40's who was a resident of the City of Irving. She 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 Dallas. She expired in an area hospital ED and had underlying high-risk health conditions.
  • A man in his 40's who was a resident of the City of Irving. 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 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 Carrollton. 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 Dallas. She expired in hospice 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 critically ill in an area hospital and did not have underlying high-risk health conditions.
  • A man in his 70's 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 80's who was a resident of the City of Irving. She had been critically ill in an area hospital and had underlying high-risk health conditions.
  • A woman in her 90's who was a resident of the City of Mesquite. She had been hospitalized and had underlying high-risk health conditions.

To date, a total of 205 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-six B.1.617.2 (Delta) variants; and twenty P.1 (Gamma) variants. Twenty-three have been hospitalized and four 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 34 (week ending 8/28/21) was 1,159, which is a rate of 44.0 daily new cases per 100,000 residents.

As of the week ending 8/28/2021, about 67% of Dallas County residents age 12 years and older have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine, including 87% of residents age 65 years and older; 73% of residents between 40-64 years of age; 62% of residents 25-39 years of age; 52% of residents 18-24 years of age; and 47% of residents 12-17 years of age. In the cities of Coppell and Sunnyvale, greater than 90% 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 34 were Dallas County residents who were not fully vaccinated. In Dallas County, 7,254 cases of COVID-19 breakthrough COVID-19 infections in fully vaccinated individuals have been confirmed to date, of which 218 (3.0%) were hospitalized and 37 have died due to COVID-19.

Of all Dallas County residents tested for COVID-19 by PCR during the week ending 8/28/2021 (CDC week 34), 14.4% of respiratory specimens tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. For week 34, 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 (4.2%), rhinovirus/enterovirus (35%), and RSV (16%). There are currently 72 active long-term care facility outbreaks. A cumulative total of 4,560 residents and 2,676 healthcare workers in long-term facilities in Dallas have been diagnosed with COVID-19. Of these, 1,151 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 22 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 713 residents and 239 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 DeathsCovid 19 ImpatientsCovid 19 ER VisitsICU Beds

Find a COVID-19 Vaccine Near You

"Today's four-day total from Saturday through Tuesday is 4,877 new COVID-19 cases and 14 deaths. There is a new strain of COVID-19 that has been detected in Dallas County, the Mu strain. While the Mu strain is not believed to be more contagious or deadly than the Delta strain, it has new sophisticated constellations on the end of its spike which is further indication that the virus is mutating into forms which will be much more difficult to combat with our present vaccines.

It is imperative that those who have not been vaccinated thus far get vaccinated as soon as possible, so that not only will they be protected, but so that those who've been vaccinated will not lose their protection further. If
you know of anyone yet to be vaccinated, please approach them in a spirit of friendship, answering their questions, and giving them the information they need so that they can join the ever-growing majority of people who've made the patriotic and personally protective choice of getting vaccinated. Currently, 69% of our eligible population here in Dallas County have received at least one dose with most of them being fully vaccinated.

It is increasingly clear that masks work and we're currently seeing less infection per 100,000 people in Dallas County than in the surrounding counties, or the state as a whole, even though some of the surrounding counties
have higher vaccination rates. Dallas County has by far the best mask compliance rate in North Texas and has a mask compliance rate higher than the state of Texas. Mask compliance is determined by how many people wear a mask in high-risk situations, either because of mask requirements or because of good judgement. When people wear masks, there is less spread, and therefore less illness, hospitalizations, and death,"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: