Dallas County reports largest increase in COVID-19 hospitalizations thus far

…and 1,214 additional positive COVID-19 cases

DALLAS -As of 11 a.m. July 6, 2020, Dallas County Health and Human Services is reporting 1,214 additional positive cases of 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19), bringing the total case count in Dallas County to 27,054, including 401 deaths.

The additional six deaths being reported today include:
 A man in his 40’s was a resident of the City of DeSoto. He had been hospitalized.
 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 60’s who was a resident of the City of Grand Prairie. He had been critically ill in an area hospital, and had underlying high risk health conditions.
 A man in his 70’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 80’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 woman in her 100’s who was a resident of a long-term care facility in the City of Dallas. She expired in the facility.

An increasing proportion of COVID-19 cases in Dallas County are being diagnosed in young adults between 18 to 39 years of age, such that of all cases reported after June 1, half have been in this age group.

Increasing reports of cases are continuing to be associated with multiple large recreational and social gatherings since the beginning of June, including house parties. Of the cases requiring hospitalization to date, more than two-thirds have been under 65 years of age, and about half do not have any high-risk chronic health conditions. Diabetes has been an underlying high-risk health condition reported in about a third of all hospitalized patients with COVID-19.

The percentage of respiratory specimens testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 increased to 33.7% among symptomatic patients presenting to area hospitals in week 26. The age-adjusted rates of confirmed COVID19 cases in non-hospitalized patients have been highest among Hispanics (667.4 per 100,000), Asians (187.4 per 100,000) and Blacks (136.4 per 100,000). These rates have been higher than Whites (43.8 per 100,000).

Over 60% of overall COVID-19 cases to date have been Hispanic. Of cases requiring hospitalization who reported employment, over 80% have been critical infrastructure workers, with a broad range of affected occupational sectors, including: healthcare, transportation, food and agriculture, public works, finance, communications, clergy, first responders and other essential functions.

Of the 401 total deaths reported to date, about a third have been associated with long-term care facilities. New cases are being reported as a daily aggregate, with a more detailed summary report updated Tuesdays and Fridays.

Local health experts use hospitalizations, ICU admissions, and ER visits as three of the key indicators in determining the COVID-19 Risk Level (color-coded risk) and corresponding guidelines for activities during our COVID-19 response. Due to weekend reporting, new data will be available on Tuesday, July 7, 2020. You can find additional information on risk-level monitoring data here.

“Today we’ve seen our biggest jump ever in hospitalizations, both in the region and in the county. We saw 105 more hospitalizations than yesterday, a 16% increase in one day alone. We also reached a new milestone in the number of new COVID -19 cases but it’s the hospitalizations number that we must watch closely. Think of hospitalizations as the sickest of the sick, the part of the iceberg above the water. In order for the numbers to increase dramatically with hospitalizations, the amount of the iceberg underneath the water must grow exponentially. This is what is happening in the community where we are seeing rampant spread.

Last night I sent another letter with the most recent recommendations from the Public Health Committee to Governor Abbott which is attached. Please don’t wait for the Governor to enact these common sense and scientifically based requests. Please do not frequent businesses on this list and do not participate in restaurant dining unless it is on a patio. We must all do our part to #FlattenTheCurve and the most important things that we can do are avoid unnecessary trips in the first place and be 100% masked when we do venture outside of our homes,” said Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins.

All Dallas County COVID-19 Updates and Information can be found here:
https://www.dallascounty.org/covid-19/

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends taking everyday preventive actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory diseases, including:
 Stay home when you are sick, except to seek medical care
 Wash your hands 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-base 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 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.

Additional information is available at the following websites:
 CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
 CDC Travel Information: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/index.html
 DSHS: https://dshs.texas.gov/coronavirus/
 DCHHS: https://www.dallascounty.org/departments/dchhs/2019-novel-coronavirus.php

From the Office of Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins, edited for publication in Blue Ribbon News.

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