As of 1:00 pm August 28, 2020, Dallas County Health and Human Services is reporting 276 additional confirmed cases of 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19), bringing the total confirmed case count in Dallas County to 70,376, including 898 confirmed deaths. The total number of probable cases in Dallas County is 2,834, including 8 probable deaths from COVID-19. Of the 276 new cases we are reporting today, 18 came through the Texas Department of State Health Services’ (DSHS) electronic laboratory reporting (ELR) system and all are from the month of June. Please see a provisional breakdown below of these newly reported cases by date of collection:
| Month | # of positive patients |
| June | 18 |
The additional 3 deaths being reported today include the following:
– A woman in her 60’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 woman in her 70’s who was a resident of the City of Irving. 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 Irving. He had been critically ill in an area hospital, and did not have underlying high risk health conditions.
From August 17th through 21st, 393 school-aged children between 5 to 18 years of age were diagnosed with COVID-19 in Dallas County. About 50% of these cases were high school age. By zip code of residence, 203 (51%) of these children were projected to have been enrolled in Dallas ISD schools.
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 provisional 7-day average daily new confirmed and probable cases (by date of test collection) for CDC week 34 was 206. The percentage of respiratory specimens testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 continues to decline but remains high, with 11.0% of symptomatic patients presenting to area hospitals testing positive in week 34.
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 attached.
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. There were 397 COVID-19 patients in acute care in Dallas County for the period ending Thursday, August 27. The number of emergency room visits for COVID-19 like symptoms in Dallas County was 417 in the 24 hour period ending Thursday, August 27, which represents around 19 percent of all emergency department visits in the county according to information reported to the North Central Texas Trauma Regional Advisory Council. While these numbers represent a significant decline from record highs, the disruptive impact of COVID-19 on our populations and health care systems remains. You can find additional information on risk-level monitoring data here.
Additionally, Figure 1 and Table 11 below are from the August 28, 2020 Dallas County Health and Human Services 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Summary (attached). Figure 1 shows the confirmed COVID-19 positive cases by date of test collection. This chart includes all delayed results that were received by DCHHS as of 8:00pm Thursday. Table 11 is a summary of confirmed and probable cases and deaths over the past five weeks and shows a decline in the daily average of new cases in Dallas County.
“Of the 276 cases we report today, only 18 cases are from the State’s electronic laboratory reporting system and all 18 of those cases are from June. So for today, we have 258 recently tested positive cases to report of COVID-19. Additionally we are reporting three deaths. Yesterday we went above 70,000 Dallas County residents who’ve contracted COVID-19 to date, but there are reasons for optimism as our hospitalizations and other metrics are trending downward. This is strong evidence that masking, social distancing, hand washing, and avoiding unnecessary trips and any indoor activities where people cannot wear a mask one hundred percent of the time is working.
I want to commend all of our city and county employees who have been stepping up to help our fellow Texans during the Hurricane Laura sheltering efforts. Families have been sheltered in Dallas, Irving, Mesquite, Richardson, and Farmers Branch under the program, with the City of Dallas handling the logistics for the Farmers Branch location. Other cities have stepped up as well and I’m proud that Dallas County is a welcoming place that will not turn its back on its fellow Texans in their time of need.
I hope everyone finds a little time away from all of the many challenges that are facing us in this extremely tough year. We need you all to stay in the fight so we can get through this as a community and a key to success is for everyone to practice good self-care, not only to make good choices about what to do in the age of COVID-19, but to take some time for yourself and those that you love,” 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:
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:
This press release was produced by City of Coppell. The views expressed here are the author’s own.
