Dallas County Reports Three-Day Total of 3,580 New Positive 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Cases and 11 Deaths, Including 248 Probable Cases
Posted on 08/25/2021
City of Dallas

As of 3:00 pm, August 24, 2021, Dallas County Health and Human Services is reporting 3,580 additional positive cases of 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in Dallas County, 3,332 confirmed cases, and 248 probable cases. There is a cumulative total of 294,286 confirmed cases (PCR test). There is a cumulative total of 49,538 probable cases (antigen test). A total of 4,291 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.

The additional deaths being reported today include the following:

  • A man in his 40's 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 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 Addison. She expired in hospice and had underlying high-risk health conditions.
  • A woman in her 50's who was a resident of the City of Rowlett. 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 Desoto. 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 Garland. She was hospitalized and had underlying high-risk health conditions.
  • A man in his 70'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 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 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 a long-term care facility in the City of Garland. She had been hospitalized 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. (See below). 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 a three-day total of 3,580 new COVID cases and 11 deaths. We had a hearing on the temporary injunction in Koch v. Jenkins v. Abbott, the case involving local authority to issue mask requirements. The medical experts presented evidence that is overwhelmingly in support of masking as an effective mitigation strategy to control the spread of COVID-19. The State offered no witnesses to rebut the life-saving impact of widespread masking. This along with increasing vaccination rates is our one-two punch to reverse the surge in COVID-19 cases. Masking is necessary until vaccination is broad enough for us to win the battle against COVID. Please do your part. Now that we have full approval from the FDA for the Pfizer vaccine, I am hopeful that more conversations will be had with those who have not yet chosen to get their vaccine, so that, as a country, we can protect one another against the scourge of 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: