Dallas County Reports 714 Positive 2019 Novel Coronavirus Cases - August 21

From City of Coppell:

As of 1:00 pm August 21, 2020, Dallas County Health and Human Services is reporting 714 additional confirmed cases of 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19), bringing the total confirmed case count in Dallas County to 67,486, including 849 confirmed deaths. The total number of probable cases in Dallas County is 2,574, including 8 probable deaths from COVID-19. Of the 714 new cases we are reporting today, 459 came through the Texas Department of State Health Services' (DSHS) electronic laboratory reporting system, with the majority from June. Please see a provisional breakdown below of these newly reported cases by date of collection:

Month# of positive patientsJune439July15August5

The additional 3 deaths being reported today include the following:

- A woman in her 50's who was a resident of the City of Grand Prairie. 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 Garland. He 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 a long-term care facility in the City of Dallas. He expired in hospice care, and had underlying high risk health conditions.

From August 6 to 14th, 227 school-aged children between 5 to 18 years of age were reported to have been diagnosed with confirmed COVID-19. Over 3,549 children under 18 years of age have been diagnosed with confirmed COVID-19 since July 1st, including 66 children who have been hospitalized for COVID-19.

Of all confirmed cases requiring hospitalization to date, more than two-thirds have been under 65 years of age. Diabetes has been an underlying high-risk health condition reported in about a third of all hospitalized patients with COVID-19. The 7-day average daily new confirmed and probable COVID-19 cases (by date of test collection) for CDC week 33 was 256.

The percentage of respiratory specimens testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 has been declining but remains high, with about 12.5% of symptomatic patients presenting to area hospitals testing positive in week 33. Of the total confirmed deaths reported to date, about 26% 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. Friday's report is forthcoming.

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. We continue to see high numbers of COVID-19 patients in Dallas County with 456 people in acute care for the period ending Thursday, August 20. Additionally, the number of emergency room visits for COVID-19 like symptoms in Dallas County was 483 in the 24 hour period ending Thursday, August 20, which represents around 22 percent of all emergency department visits in the county according to information reported to the North Central Texas Trauma Regional Advisory Council. You can find additional information on risk-level monitoring data here.

"We continue to see a good trend with the number of new positive cases. Today, although we report 714 positive cases, only 260 of those should be considered new. The rest comes from the State's electronic laboratory reporting system errors that led to old cases not being timely reported. Additionally, we report three deaths, including a person in their 50's. We are seeing a good trend due to masking, social distancing, hand washing and avoiding unnecessary trips and gatherings with people outside your immediate family who are unmasked. We must continue this in order to have fewer illnesses, more businesses remain open, and our children back to school sooner rather than later.

I'm pleased to announce that testing will now be available at any City of Dallas/Dallas County testing site for anyone over the age of five, with or without symptoms. People under the age of 18 are encouraged to go to the Ellis Davis Field House location and the various walk-up sites until the Eastfield Campus of Dallas College reopens under Parkland Management on August 31. That said, children and adults can be tested at all of our city/county sites. Locations can be found here," 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:

• Dallas County COVID-19 Related Health Guidance for the Public
• Dallas County Measures for Protecting An Institution's Workforce from COVID-19 Infection: Employer/Employee Guidance
• Dallas County Guidance for Individuals at High-Risk for Severe COVID-19

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-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 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:

• 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

This press release was produced by City of Coppell. The views expressed here are the author’s own.