COVID-19 In DFW Jan. 10-Jan.16: Infections, Hospitalization Rates Reach New Records

For the latest on the pandemic in North Texas, visit KERA News' COVID-19 Live Updates page.

Saturday, Jan. 16

First Case Of COVID-19 Variant Reported In Dallas County

Dallas County officials announced Saturday that they've identified the first case of the UK coronavirus variant in North Texas. This is the third identified case of the variant in Texas.

The individual identified with the variant is a Dallas man in his 20s, with no recent travel history. He’s currently in stable condition and in isolation.

Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins said it's unclear where the patient first contracted the virus, given his lack of travel history.

“Our patient zero had no outside the United States travel, so we don’t know exactly where he might have gotten it from, but it’s inevitable when you live in an urban area with a big hub for transportation like DFW and Love that you’re gonna get this,” he said.

Jenkins said getting vaccines out to the community is a race against the clock as the coronavirus continues to mutate. He said the UK variant is 70% more contagious, but is not believed to be more deadly and that the vaccine should be effective against it.

“Every virus mutates and when it mutates enough, it’s able to beat the vaccines, and so we’re seeing the first major mutations happening and it’s a race to get us as many of us vaccinated so we can get the herd immunity at 70 to 75 percent before this thing mutates to the extent our vaccines don’t affect it.”

Jenkins urged residents to take the necessary precautions like wearing their masks, avoiding crowds and gatherings and registering for a vaccine.

Another 2,809 cases in the area raises the total to 206,329. Of the cases reported, 2,432 are confirmed and 377 are probable cases.

As of Saturday morning, 10,121 doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered at the Fair Park mega-vaccine clinic, which opened Jan. 11. Next week, about 6,000 doses will be available.

Five deaths were reported today:

• A Grand Prairie man in his 50s.
• A Dallas woman in her 50s.
• A Garland man in his 60s.
• A Dallas man in his 80s.
• A Dallas woman in her 80s.

Tarrant County Reports 3,023 New Cases

There are 3,023 additional cases in the county, raising the total to 190,886. A total of 1,833 deaths and 136,190 people have recovered from the virus in the area.

459 New Cases In Denton County

Denton County announced 459 additional cases in the county, 447 of which are active cases. The county also reported 325 newly-recovered cases of COVID-19, increasing the countywide recovery total to 32,098.

Fort Worth Police Department Hit By Pandemic, 224 In Department Sidelined Due To COVID-19

The Fort Worth Police Department reported Friday that 224 police personnel are sidelined due to the disease, according to WFAA.

Of the 224 employees not working, 188 are sworn officers. Per the department, 143 total employees are infected, while 81 are quarantining for close COVID contact.

Per Officer Buddy Calzada, officers are being pulled from specialized units to ensure that response times to 911 calls don't lag. He added that overtime pay is also being utilized.

Fort Worth police officials, however, would not specify which units are being impacted.

Friday, Jan. 15

Denton County Reports 12 Deaths

The 12 deaths is a daily record and brings the countywide total in Denton County to 249. The deaths include:

• A man in his 80s from Carrollton
• A woman in her 80s who was a resident of Atria Senior Living in Carrollton
• A man in his 70s from Little Elm
• A man in his 80s from The Colony
• A man in his 70s from Carrollton
• A woman in her 80s from Carrollton
• A woman in her 60s who was a resident of unincorporated southeast Denton County
• A woman in her 80s who was a resident of Mustang Creek Estates in Frisco
• A man in his 80s from Krum
• A man in his 80s who was a resident of Avanti Senior Living in Flower Mound
• A woman in her 80s from Corinth
• A woman in her 60s from Denton

Denton County Public Health also reported 471 cases and 423 newly recovered cases of COVID-19.

Dallas County Reports 24 Deaths

The county also reports 2,817 new positive cases. The 24 deaths brings the countywide total to 1,853. The deaths include:

• Two men in their 40s from Dallas.
• A man in his 40s from Mesquite.
• A man in his 50s from Balch Springs.
• A man in his 50s who was a resident of a long-term care facility in Mesquite.
• Two women in their 50s from Dallas.
• A woman in her 50s who was a resident of a long-term care facility in Irving.
• A woman in her 60s who was a resident of a long-term care facility in Mesquite.
• Two women in their 60s from Dallas.
• Two men in their 70s from Garland.
• A woman in her 70s from Dallas.
• A man in his 70s who was a resident of a long-term care facility in Dallas.
• A man in his 70s who was a resident of a long-term care facility in Mesquite.
• A man in his 70s from Mesquite.
• A woman in her 70s from Mesquite.
• A man in his 70s from Irving.
• A man in his 70s from Dallas.
• A woman in her 80s who was a resident of a long-term care facility in Mesquite.
• A woman in her 80s who was a resident of a long-term care facility in Dallas.
• A man in his 80s from Dallas.
• A man in his 100s who was a resident of a long-term care facility in Mesquite.

Vaccinations will be taking place at Fair Park on Saturday by appointment only. Visit the Dallas County vaccination information website or call the hotline at (469) 749-9900 for more information.

Tarrant County Reports 31 Additional Deaths From December And 7 More From January

The countywide death total is now 1,825 in Tarrant County after its weekly reconciling of COVID-19 data with the state. Another 2,350 positive cases were reported Friday.

State House Rep. Joe Deshotel of Beaumont Tests Positive While Reps. Michelle Beckley And Erin Zwiener Isolate

State House Representative Joe Deshotel of Beaumont has tested positive for COVID-19 and at least two legislators are quarantining due to exposure — including one from North Texas.

After Deshotel announced his positive result Thursday, Carrollton Democrat Michelle Beckley, and Representative Erin Zwiener from the Hill Country said they would self-quarantine. Both sat near Deshotel in the House chamber.

Beckley had already expressed her concern about catching the virus and avoided Tuesday’s first day of the new legislative session, fearing it could become a “super spreader” event. She will be in isolation for the next 10 days.

She said in a statement that she is currently immune-compromised and has only received the first dose of the Moderna vaccine.

"On Wednesday and Thursday, in order to fulfill my duties to my constituents of House District 65, I went to the floor of the Texas House in order to vote on Housekeeping Resolutions and House Rules that will affect the rest of the legislative session," Beckley said in a statement. "I sat there for multiple hours, sitting only 3 feet apart from other members, which is not in accordance with social distancing guidance."

A group of House members, including Beckley, chose not to attend opening day events citing fears of spreading or contracting coronavirus.

Beckley's district is located in Denton County and serves the majority of Lewisville and the parts of Carrollton, Dallas, Frisco and Plano that extend into the county.

Thursday, Jan. 14

Texas First State To Administer Over 1 Million COVID-19 Vaccines

Texas is the first state to administer upwards of a million first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, according to officials. The state has given out more first doses than California, Florida and New York, which are close behind.

“Texas is leading the way for our nation once again,” said Gov. Greg Abbott in a statement. “This is the biggest vaccination effort we have ever undertaken, and it would not be possible without the dedication and tireless efforts of our healthcare workers. We still have a long road ahead of us, but Texans continue to prove that we are up to this challenge.”

Vaccinations will continue for frontline workers, residents at long-term care facilities and Texans over 65 or those with chronic medical conditions.

Dallas County Reports 1,993 New Cases

Another 1,993 cases in the area brings the total to 201,744. Of the cases reported today, 1,796 are confirmed and 197 are probable cases. Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins said with a limited number of ICU beds available, it’s important that residents take precautions.

Seventeen deaths were reported today:

• A Dallas woman in her 30s.
• A Garland woman in her 50s.
• A Mesquite woman in her 50s.
• A Mesquite man in his 50s.
• A Dallas man in his 50s.
• A Mesquite man in his 50s.
• A Mesquite woman in her 60s.
• A Mesquite man in his 60s.
• Two Dallas men in their 60s.
• A Garland man in his 70s.
• An Addison woman in her 70s.
• A Garland woman in her 80s.
• A Dallas man in his 90s.
• A Highland Park man in his 90s.
• A Desoto woman in her 90s.
• A Mesquite man in his 90s.

539 New Cases In Denton County

There are 539 additional cases in the area, raising the total to 45,346. There have also been 364 newly-recovered cases, increasing the countywide recovery total to 31,354.

Tarrant Reports 2,286 New Cases

Another 2,286 cases increases the total to 185,513. A total of 1,787 deaths have been reported in the area.

State Surpasses 2 Million COVID-19 Cases

State health officials say coronavirus cases have now topped 2 million since the pandemic first struck Texas in early March.

The state passed that mark with yesterday's report of nearly 27,000 new cases reported.

Just under 3,000 of those cases were in Dallas County. Health officials there also reported 21 new COVID-19 deaths. All but one victim had underlying health conditions.

A written statement from Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins said updated prediction models from UT Southwestern Medical Center show Dallas County could have as many as 1,900 patients hospitalized for COVID-19 by Jan. 22 — and about 3,600 new cases a day.

In North Texas, Hospitals Are ‘Stretched Very Thin’

Hospitalizations in North Texas due to COVID-19 have already set new and dismal records in the New Year.

More than 4,000 hospital patients across 18 counties in the Dallas-Fort Worth area had COVID-19 when this week began.

When cases were spiking over the summer, that number never reached 2,000.

“I can tell you that we’re stretched very thin right now,” said Barclay Berdan, CEO of Texas Health Resources.

Since September, the numbers of hospitalized coronavirus patients have been surging. About 30% of all the patients in North Texas hospitals are now COVID-19 positive, according to state data.

That’s led all of Texas Health Resources’ 28 hospitals in the region to activate surge plans, diverting resources away from all but the most urgent care. Surgical recovery beds were converted into ICU beds. Nurses and other staffers who don’t typically work directly with patients in the hospital were re-tasked to help those that do.

The hospital chain is working with multiple recruiters to bring in more nurses, respiratory therapists and other critical workers, but the ever-growing need has left workers exhausted, Berdan said.

Read more from KERA's Christopher Connelly

Odessa Hospital To Recieve 3,900 Pfizer Vaccines

Medical Center Hospital in Odessa announced on Wedensdday that it will begin receiving thousands of COVID-19 vaccines from the state every week to conduct mass vaccinations.

Medical Center’s CEO Russell Tippin announced in a virtual press conference that his hospital would receive 3,900 doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine on an ongoing basis beginning early next week.

Frontline workers, individuals 65 and older as well as those with underlying conditions will be at the head of the line, but Tippin expects to get vaccines out to the general public quickly.

“What we’ve heard from the state is that they want these shots to fly off the shelf. So our intention is to move these quickly every week, to get these into people’s arms not only in Odessa but well be happy to service the entire Permian Basin." Tippin said.

Currently, Medical Center’s staff is working on avenues for Odessans to register for a vaccine. Officials are also finalizing dates, times and locations for drive-thru vaccination clinics.

Wednesday, Jan. 13

Tarrant County Is Running Out Of Hospital Beds, Reports 15 Deaths

The Tarrant County Public Health director said the county's hospitals are running out of beds due to a months-long surge in coronavirus cases. Vinny Taneja told county commissioners that hospitals now have to ration intensive care.

“Which, it happens, but again — these are things that we worry about because when somebody needs ICU care, there should not have to be two thoughts about it," Taneja said.

COVID-19 patients now account for some 60% of ICU capacity in Tarrant County.

On Wednesday, Tarrant County reported 2,286 new cases and 15 deaths. There are now a total of 1,777 deaths in the county. Wednesday's deaths include a man from Pantego in his 90s, two women from Arlington in their 90s, a woman from Mansfield in her 90s, a man and woman from Bedford in their 80s, a man from Fort Worth in his 80s, a woman from Richland Hills in her 80s, a woman from Arlington in her 70s, a man and woman from Fort Worth in their 70s, a woman from Fort Worth in her 60s, a woman from North Richland Hills in her 60s, a woman from Hurst in her 60s, and a man from Arlington in his 60s.

Dallas County Reports 2,994 Cases And 21 Deaths

The county now has a total of 1,812 deaths. The deaths include:

• A woman in her 40s from Dallas.
• A man in his 40s from Glenn Heights.
• A man in his 50s from Dallas.
• A woman in her 50s from Richardson.
• A man in his 50s from Grand Prairie.
• A man in his 60s from Dallas.
• A man in his 60s from Duncanville.
• A man in his 60s from Irving.
• A woman in her 60s from Dallas.
• A man in his 60s from Richardson.
• A man in his 70s from Garland.
• A man in his 70s from Duncanville.
• A man in his 70s from Dallas.
• A woman in her 70s from Dallas.
• A man in his 80s from Dallas.
• A man in his 80s from Carrollton.
• A woman in her 80s from DeSoto.
• Two men in their 80s from Dallas.
• A man in his 90s who was a resident of a long-term care facility in Dallas.

Hospitalizations still remain high in Dallas County, with 1,197 patients in acute care in county hospitals.

"UTSW has updated modeling out that predicts Dallas County could have up to 1,900 patients hospitalized for COVID and roughly 3,600 new COVID cases a day by January 22," Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins said. "These are concerning numbers."

Denton County Reports 650 Cases

The county now has 44,808 COVID-19 cases. There were 565 newly recovered cases, increasing the countywide recovery total to 30,991.

Tuesday, Jan. 12

Dallas County Reports Record Highs For Cases And Hospitalizations, Plus 14 Deaths

There were 3,549 new cases in the county, a new daily high. According to Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins, that number is more than 350 cases high than the previous record. There were also 14 deaths reported, bringing the countywide total to 1,791 deaths.

The deaths include:

• A woman in her 40s from Dallas.
• A man in his 50s from DeSoto.
• A man in his 50s from Mesquite.
• Three men in their 60s from Dallas.
• Two women in their 60s from Dallas.
• A man in his 60s from Mesquite.
• A man in his 60s from Highland Park.
• Two men in their 70s from Dallas.
• A woman in her 70s from Highland Park.
• A man in his 80s from Dallas.

There were 1,226 COVID-19 patients in acute care across the county by the end of Monday, and the number of emergency room visits for COVID-19-like symptoms was 462 for the same time period, representing 25% of all ER visits.

Tarrant County Reports 30 Deaths

The deaths include a man and two women from Arlington in their 90s, a woman from Fort Worth in her 90s, a woman from Bedford in her 90s, a man from Azle in his 90s, a woman from Mansfield in her 90s, a woman from North Richland Hills in her 90s, three men from Fort Worth in their 80s, a man from White Settlement in his 80s, a man from Arlington in his 80s, a man from Burleson in his 70s, a man and two women from Arlington in their 70s, a man from Haltom City in his 70s, a woman from Mansfield in her 70s, a man from Richland Hills in his 70s, a man from Euless in his 70s, two men from Fort Worth in their 70s, a man from North Richland Hills in his 60s, a woman and two men from Fort Worth in their 60s, a woman from Arlington in her 60s, and two women from Mansfield in their 60s.

Tarrant County now has 1,762 confirmed deaths and 128,406 people have recovered.

Denton County Reports 579 New Cases

The 579 new cases increases the cumulative, countywide total to 44,158 cases. DCPH also reported 450 newly recovered cases of COVID-19, increasing the countywide recovery total to 30,426.

Nancy Bush Ellis Dies Of Coronavirus Complications

A longtime Democrat who helped her Republican brother, George H. W. Bush, and her nephew, George W. Bush, get elected president, has died from complications of the coronavirus.

Nancy Bush Ellis died Sunday at an assisted living facility in Concord, Massachusetts. She was hospitalized December 30 with a fever and tested positive for the coronavirus.

Although she was a Democrat for decades who backed environmental and antipoverty causes, Ellis was first and foremost fiercely loyal to her family. Nancy Bush Ellis was 94.

Monday, Jan. 11

Dallas County Reports Highest Positive Case Rates Since March

The county reported 1,867 new cases and four deaths. That gives Dallas County a total of 194,380 cases and 1,777 deaths. The provisional seven-day average of daily new confirmed and probable cases for the week ending Jan. 2 is 2,104, a rate of 79.8 daily new cases per 100,000 residents.

The deaths reported include:

• A man in his 50s from Richardson.
• A man in his 60s from Cedar Hill.
• A man in his 70s from Richardson.
• A man in his 70s from DeSoto.

Tarrant County Reports 21 Deaths

The 21 deaths increase the countywide total to 1,732. The deceased included a man from Fort Worth in his 90s, a woman from North Richland Hills in her 90s, a man and woman from North Richland Hills in their 80s, two women from Arlington in their 80s, a woman from Arlington in her 70s, a woman from Fort Worth in her 70s, two women from Arlington in their 60s, three men from Fort Worth in their 60s, a man and woman from Fort Worth in their 50s, a woman from Grand Prairie in her 50s, a woman from Haltom City in her 50s, a man from Sansom Park in his 40s, and two men and a woman from Arlington in their 40s.

Denton County Reports 476 Cases And Four Deaths

The county now has 237 total deaths. The deaths include:

• A woman in her 80s who was a resident of Prestonwood Court in Plano
• A man in his 80s from Lewisville
• A man in his 50s from Denton
• A man in his 70s who was a resident of Good Samaritan Society Denton Village in Denton

Denton County Public Health also announced 476 new cases, of which 404 are active cases. There were 707 newly recovered cases of COVID-19, increasing the countywide recovery total to 29,976.

NBA Postpones Two Games, Including Monday's Mavericks Game In Dallas

The NBA called off two more games because of COVID-related and contact tracing issues, postponing Monday’s game in Dallas between the Mavericks and the New Orleans Pelicans as well as Tuesday’s matchup in Chicago between the Bulls and the Boston Celtics.

Those moves come one day after Miami’s game in Boston was called off because of contact-tracing issues within the Heat, and would have been a matchup where the Celtics would have had only eight available players — after seven were ruled out in accordance with the league’s health and safety protocols.

The Mavericks-Pelicans game and Bulls-Celtics game increase the total games postponed this season due to virus-related matters to four. The Heat are scheduled to play in Philadelphia on Tuesday — but, as of Monday afternoon, remained in their hotel in Boston, unsure of their next steps.

Dallas did not have enough players cleared to play Monday because the contact-tracing process was still ongoing, said a person with knowledge of the situation. The person spoke with the The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because it had not been disclosed publicly by the league or the team.

There were four Dallas players on the COVID-19 protocol list as of Sunday night, the newest addition being Maxi Kleber. Starters Josh Richardson and Dorian Finney-Smith and backup Jalen Brunson had already been ruled out; those three stayed behind in Denver after a win over the Nuggets on Thursday and missed Saturday’s victory at home against Orlando.

Dallas Public Vaccination Site Opens Today At Fair Park

The City of Dallas and Dallas County are opening the first mega public COVID-19 vaccination site at Fair Park today. Dallas County Health and Human Services estimates up to 2,000 people will be vaccinated by appointment each day.

The vaccination site will be open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, pending vaccine availability. Vaccinations are available by appointment only. People who wish to receive the vaccine through DCHHS must register online.

State Officials Release List Of Coronavirus Vaccination Hubs

Texas health officials have released a list of coronavirus vaccination hubs intended to streamline large-scale vaccination distribution that will receive the state's next shipment of doses.

The Texas Tribune reports the 28 hubs will get more than 158,000 doses of the vaccine this week. Another 38,000 doses will go to other providers across the state.

The hubs include six locations in North Texas.

In Dallas County, Health and Human Services, Parkland Hospital and UT Southwestern Medical Center will all receive the higher quantity of doses. Tarrant County Public Health, Texas Health Resources in Fort Worth and Denton County Public Health will also be vaccination hubs.

Therapeutic Infusion Centers Will Open In Irving, Fort Worth, and Laredo

The state today will open therapeutic infusion centers in Fort Worth, Irving and Laredo to treat outpatient cases of COVID-19. The sites will give Regeneron’s monoclonal antibodies and bamlanivimab to patients who meet certain criteria and who have a referral from a hospital or doctor.

The Texas Division of Emergency Management launched the centers to help keep hospitalizations down.

Other infusion centers were set up throughout Texas in cities such as Austin, El Paso and Laredo.

Sunday, Jan. 10

7 Deaths & Over 2,200 New Cases In Dallas County

Dallas County is reporting 2,246 new cases today of which 1,987 are confirmed. There is a cumulative total of 192,567 confirmed cases, including 1,773 deaths in the county.

The county is also reporting seven additional deaths related to the virus today, the are described as:

• Three men from Dallas — one in his 40s and two in their 60s
• A Grand Prairie man in his 60s
• A Richardson woman in her 60s
• A Garland woman in her 60s
• A Duncanville woman in her 80s

All had underlying health conditions.

Nearly 3,000 New Cases In Tarrant County

Tarrant County's COVID-19 dashboard is showing 2,950 new cases today. There have been a cumulative total of 176,790 cases in the county, including 1,711 deaths.

Read More: A Timeline Of COVID-19's Spread In North Texas

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