Dallas County reports second highest number of COVID-19 deaths in single day

Dallas County reports second highest number of COVID-19 deaths in single day

Dallas County reported 33 deaths from COVID-19 on Wednesday as case numbers and hospitalizations continue to rise to record levels.

DALLAS - Dallas County reported 33 deaths from COVID-19 on Wednesday as case numbers and hospitalizations continue to rise to record levels.

The 33 deaths are the second-highest number reported in one day during the pandemic in the county. The county also reported 1,090 new confirmed COVID-19 cases on Wednesday.

“The deaths we report today are a direct correlation to the high number of cases reported several weeks ago,” said County Judge Clay Jenkins in a statement. “The decisions that we make today will determine how many cases are confirmed in 7 to 14 days, how many hospitalizations we have 3 weeks from now & how many deaths we report at this time next month.”

The deaths include: one in their 20s, one in their 30s, two in their 40s, six in their 50s, four in their 60s, eight in their 70s, six in their 80s, five in their 90s.

“This is exactly what we didn’t want to see,” said Dallas County Health Director Dr. Philip Huang. “We don’t want to see this but we’ll see how the numbers proceed.”

Of the 33 deaths reported Wednesday, eight were residents of long-term care facilities. The county says there are 101 active outbreaks at long term care facilities, the highest number yet in the pandemic. There have been more than 800 cases in the last 30 days.

“The increased spread in our community in general, some of the COVID fatigue, we’ve been working with them I think just the vigilance sometimes adhering to the infection controls and things is not as rigid as it was earlier,” Dr. Huang said.

Hospital resources is a concern in Dallas County, just like much of North Texas

Hospitals across the North Texas region have reported fewer than 100 available ICU beds combined for six straight days.

“Our numbers are getting quite low also,” Dr. Huang said. “I mean they are getting low in terms of available ICU beds.”

And with vaccine approval perhaps days away, the message is to buckle down just a bit longer.

“Just remain very alarmed and concerned about where the numbers could be going,” Dr. Huang said. “I think maybe right before thanksgiving, it looked like people were taking it more seriously, and we just need to keep it up.”

Of all of the deaths reported on Wednesday, they all either had an underlying high-risk health condition or were above 80 years old.

But when we talk about long term care facilities, it’s not just the residents impacted. In the last 30 days, 30 people have died tied to those facilities, including two staff members.                     

Dallas County has reported a total of 138,233 cases and 1,275 deaths since the start of the pandemic.

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