DALLAS (WBAP/KLIF)- Dallas County Health and Human Services reports a record 300 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the total case count in Dallas County to 12,945, including 274 deaths. No reports of recovered cases were available on the website.
The additional 3 deaths being reported include:
– A woman in her 40’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 70’s who was a resident of the City of DeSoto. 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 expired in the facility, and did not have underlying high risk health conditions.
Of cases requiring hospitalization who reported employment, over 80% have been critical infrastructure workers including: healthcare, transportation, food and agriculture, public works, finance, communications, clergy, first responders and other essential functions. Of cases requiring hospitalization, 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.
Dallas COVID-19 Healthcare Czar Dr. Kelvin Baggett said they’re looking at trends, capacity and what they can do to help the vulnerable population.
Baggett said they don’t know when numbers will peak, but expects numbers to grow as more testing is available.
Over 60% of overall COVID-19 cases to date have been Hispanic. Of the 274 total deaths reported to date, over a third have been associated with long-term care facilities.
“I’ve spent a lot of time over the last few weeks meeting with leaders of the hispanic community, understanding their special cultural considerations and how we can put testing closer to them and within their community,” said Baggett.
He said they are looking at adding up to 7 more walk up testing sites that people without transportation access can get to within a 15 minute walk.
Baggett notes that Dallas Hospitals are at 68% capacity and they are closely monitoring this to make sure the hospitals can handle another surge of patients if necessary.
As for protesting, Baggett said the city created a 10 step guide to peacefully protest during a pandemic. “It has evidence-based guidance for law enforcement officers, individuals who are protesting as well as individuals who may have been exposed to those protesting,”he said. Badgett said they plan to distribute these guides as widely and broadly as possible.
He also urges protesters to take advantage of the free walk up testing available at the American Airlines Center. “We are also working with other partners to make this testing available to protesters for as long as they continue,” said Baggett.
