COVID-19 Report: 1,962 Cases, 54 Deaths Announced Monday; Hospitalizations Drop Below 9% in TSA-E

Across the largest four counties in North Texas Monday there were 54 more reported COVID-19 deaths and another 1,962 new reported cases of the virus. Meanwhile, the percentage of people hospitalized for COVID-19 continues to drop and is now below 9% in TSA-E.

County-specific details for Dallas, Tarrant, Denton and Collin counties are below based on data reported Monday, March 1, by county officials, local health departments and the state health department.

Dallas County

Dallas County reported another 42 COVID-19 deaths Monday along with 751 new cases of the virus. In the last seven days, the county has announced 3,862 new and probable cases of the virus, an average of 552 per day, and 137 deaths, an average of 20 deaths per day.

Dallas County has stopped issuing reports on Sunday, so the numbers reported on Monday are for both Sunday and Monday.

Since March 2020, the county has reported a total of 281,155 cases of the virus including 245,946 confirmed cases (PCR) and 35,209 probable cases (antigen). There have been 2,993 deaths attributed to the virus; there are currently an estimated 266,632 recoveries leaving 11,530 estimated active cases in the county.

Tarrant County

Tarrant County Public Health added another 10 COVID-19 deaths Monday along with 395 new cases of the virus. In the last seven days, the county has announced 3,818 new and probable cases of the virus, an average of 545 per day, and 94 deaths, an average of 13 deaths per day.

Since March 2020, the county has reported a total of 242,638 cases of the virus including 206,426 confirmed cases (PCR) and 36,212 probable cases (antigen). There have been 2,883 deaths attributed to the virus; there are currently an estimated 224,338 recoveries leaving 15,417 estimated active cases in the county.

Denton County

Denton County Public Health reports an additional 704 new cases of COVID-19 Monday with no new deaths. Of the new cases reported, DCPH confirmed 641 are active while 63 have already cleared recovery protocol.

Since March 2020, Denton County has reported a total of 64,697 cases of the virus including 49,205 confirmed cases (PCR) and 15,492 probable cases (antigen). There have been 407 deaths attributed to the virus; there are currently an estimated 52,323 recoveries leaving 11,967 estimated active cases in the county.

Collin County

The Texas Department of State Health Services reports two new COVID-19 deaths in Collin County Monday along with an additional 115 newly confirmed and probable cases of the virus.

Since March 2020, the DSHS has reported a total of 83,404 cases of the virus in Collin County including 70,159 confirmed cases (PCR) and 13,245 probable cases (antigen). There have been 723 deaths attributed to the virus; there are currently an estimated 68,864 recoveries leaving 13,817 estimated active cases in the county.

Want to Get on a Vaccine Waitlist?

County health departments have launched waitlists for adults 16 years old and over.

You can register to recieve the vaccination in Collin, Dallas, Denton and Tarrant counties. Links are below:

Waitlist Links: Collin - Search Waitlist | Dallas | Denton | Tarrant

You do not need to be a resident of the county to register for a COVID-19 vaccine in that county -- registration is open to anyone in Texas. For those without internet access, Tarrant County is also taking registrations by phone at 817-248-6299. In Dallas County, call the DCHHS vaccine hotline at 1-855-IMMUNE9 (1-855-466-8639). In Denton County, call 940-349-2585.

For a more detailed breakdown of who is included in each priority group in Texas, see this page from the Texas DSHS.

COVID-19 Vaccines

In Texas, the COVID-19 vaccines are currently available to anyone over the age of 5. The vaccines are still not approved for children younger than 5 however -- those trials are ongoing.

Once vaccinated, people who received either the Moderna or Pfizer vaccines are expected to get some level of protection within a couple of weeks after the first shot, but full protection may not happen until a couple of weeks after the second shot. For those who receive the Johnson & Johnson vaccine -- there is only one shot needed.

As of Jan. 3, 2022, it is also recommended those who are age 12 and up and who have been fully vaccinated receive a booster as early as five months after their last dose, for a total of three shots. The vaccine made by Pfizer and its partner BioNTech is the only U.S. option for children of any age.

As for even younger children, kid-size doses for 5- to 11-year-olds rolled out in November and experts said healthy youngsters should be protected after their second dose for a while. But the FDA also said on Jan. 3, 2022, that if children that young have severely weakened immune systems, they will be allowed a third dose 28 days after their second. That’s the same third-dose timing already recommended for immune-compromised teens and adults.

Pfizer and Moderna are studying their vaccines, in even smaller doses, for children younger than 5.

Even when fully vaccinated, it's still possible to become infected by the virus since none of the vaccines offer 100% protection from infection. With that in mind, even if you've been vaccinated it's still a good idea to wear a mask and keep some separation between strangers or those whose vaccination status is unclear.