Dallas County reports 17 new COVID-19 deaths, 3,320 coronavirus cases

Dallas County on Tuesday reported 17 more COVID-19 deaths and 3,320 new coronavirus cases in totals that included counts from the weekend.

Of the new cases, 2,820 were confirmed and 500 were probable. The numbers bring the county’s overall case total to 380,124, including 323,850 confirmed and 56,274 probable. The death toll is 4,543.

All 17 of the latest victims had underlying high-risk health conditions, and seven were in their 30s and 40s, according to a prepared statement by the county health department.

The average number of new daily cases in the county for the last two weeks is 1,535. For the previous 14-day period, the average was 1,058.

The county reported that 897 people were hospitalized with the virus. There are 21 adult ICU beds available in Dallas County, according to the Dallas-Fort Worth Hospital Council.

The number of hospitalized patients is on the downswing in Dallas County after cases surged from the delta variant, according to the latest forecast from UT Southwestern Medical Center. Hospitalizations are expected to fall to about 800 by Oct. 7.

“Masks are working to lower the spread of COVID here in Dallas County in particular, and in North Texas generally,” Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins said in the statement. “We need more vaccinations, if we are ever going to defeat COVID-19.”

According to the state, 1,538,790 people in Dallas County have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, while 1,300,676 — 59.6% of the county’s population 12 and older — are fully vaccinated.

Clay said President Joe Biden’s recent directive that companies with more than 100 workers must require COVID-19 vaccinations will encourage all businesses to do the same.

“My hope is that employers of all sizes will take steps to require vaccination of employees to protect their business, our community, and our country,” he said in the statement.

Texas

The state reported 16,082 more cases Tuesday, including 10,534 confirmed cases, 2,622 probable cases and 2,926 old cases recently reported to the state.

The state also reported 346 COVID-19 deaths, raising its toll to 61,178.

The state’s case total is now 3,941,190, including 3,294,624 confirmed and 646,566 probable.

Across the state, 11,658 people are hospitalized with COVID-19, including 3,264 in North Texas.

According to the state, 17,078,454 people in Texas have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, while 14,562,087 — 60.5% of the state’s population 12 and older — are fully vaccinated.

Tarrant County

Tarrant County reported seven deaths and 1,186 cases Tuesday.

Of the new cases, 940 were confirmed and 246 were probable. The numbers bring the county’s case total to 337,510, including 280,548 confirmed and 56,962 probable. The death toll is 4,139.

The county reported that 1,094 people were hospitalized with the virus.

UTSW’s latest forecast predicts that Tarrant County’s hospitalizations, which have been higher than Dallas County’s in recent weeks, will flatten in the coming weeks and be at about 1,200 on Oct. 7.

According to the state, 1,146,490 people in Tarrant County have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, while 999,179 — 57.5% of the county’s population 12 and older — are fully vaccinated.

Collin County

The state added five deaths and 351 cases to Collin County’s totals Tuesday.

Of the new cases, 290 were confirmed and 61 were probable. The numbers bring the county’s case total to 121,267, including 99,267 confirmed and 22,000 probable. The death toll is 979.

The county reported that 410 people were hospitalized with the virus.

According to the state, 674,789 people in Collin County have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, while 597,268 — 69% of the county’s population 12 and older — are fully vaccinated.

Denton County

Denton County reported no new deaths and 536 cases Tuesday.

The numbers bring the county’s case total to 97,522, including 71,124 confirmed and 26,398 probable. The death toll is 684.

The county reported that 184 people were hospitalized with the virus.

According to the state, 528,931 people in Denton County have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, while 473,302 — 63.1% of the county’s population 12 and older — are fully vaccinated.

Other counties

The Texas Department of State Health Services has taken over reporting for these other North Texas counties. In some counties, new data may not be reported every day.

The latest numbers are:

• Rockwall County: 16,216 cases (12,694 confirmed and 3,522 probable), 190 deaths.
• Kaufman County: 22,053 cases (17,879 confirmed and 4,174 probable), 349 deaths.
• Ellis County: 30,453 cases (24,477 confirmed and 5,976 probable), 390 deaths.
• Johnson County: 25,521 cases (21,077 confirmed and 4,444 probable), 448 deaths.

Staff writer Tom Steele contributed to this report.