In the last seven days, from May 1-7, statewide hospitalizations for people with COVID-19 are creeping back up. Meanwhile, the 7-day averages for new cases in the DFW Metroplex continue to drop.
Statewide, the Texas Department of State Health Services reported the rolling 7-day average of new confirmed cases dropped over the last week from roughly 2,250 on April 30 to about 1,800 on May 7. The 7-day average for the number of probable cases over the same time period decreased from roughly 630 to 590.
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On Friday, the state reported 53 more COVID-19 deaths, which is above the rolling 7-day average of 45 per day. A week ago, that 7-day average was 55.
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Across the state Friday the DSHS reported 2,568 hospitalized COVID-19 patients, a slight decrease from the 2,648 patients reported seven days ago. The percentage of people hospitalized in TSA-E on Friday was 3.19%, an increase of .34% from a week ago. The number of COVID-19 patients in DFW hospitals has bounced between 3.6% and 2.73% since March 27. The number of hospitalized patients in DFW's TSA-E has increased for five straight days from 444 to 521.
County-specific details for Dallas, Tarrant, Denton, and Collin counties are below based on data reported between Saturday, May 1, and Friday, May 7, by county officials, local health departments, and the state health department.
Dallas County
In the last seven days, Dallas County reported 1,470 new and probable cases of the virus, an average of 210 per day. One week ago, the county was reporting an average of 234 new cases per day -- a month ago that average was 266 cases per day.
In the last seven days, Dallas County has also announced 30 deaths, an average of 4 deaths per day. One week ago, the county was reporting an average of 7 deaths per day -- a month ago that average was 17 deaths per day.
Since March 2020, the county has reported a total of 300,261 cases of the virus including 258,440 confirmed cases (PCR) and 41,821 probable cases (antigen). There have been 3,925 deaths attributed to the virus; there are currently an estimated 291,913 recoveries and, according to the DSHS, an estimated 4,116 active cases in the county.
Tarrant County
In the last seven days, Tarrant County reported 1,180 new and probable cases of the virus, an average of 169 per day. One week ago, the county was reporting an average of 183 new cases per day -- a month ago that average was 181 cases per day.
In the last seven days, Tarrant County has also announced 19 deaths, an average of 2.7 deaths per day. One week ago, the county was reporting an average of 3.4 deaths per day -- a month ago that average was 6 deaths per day.
Since March 2020, the county has reported a total of 257,959 cases of the virus including 216,492 confirmed cases (PCR) and 41,467 probable cases (antigen). There have been 3,438 deaths attributed to the virus; there are currently an estimated 250,486 recoveries and, according to the DSHS, an estimated 4,540 active cases in the county.
Denton County
In the last seven days, Denton County reported 542 new and probable cases of the virus, an average of 77 per day. One week ago, the county was reporting an average of 78 new cases per day -- a month ago that average was 77 cases per day.
In the last seven days, Denton County has also announced 7 deaths, an average of 1 death per day. One week ago, the county was reporting an average of .86 deaths per day.
Since March 2020, the county has reported a total of 74,882 cases of the virus including 55,080 confirmed cases (PCR) and 19,802 probable cases (antigen). There have been 495 deaths attributed to the virus; there are currently an estimated 70,997 recoveries leaving an estimated 3,390 active cases in the county.
Collin County
In the last seven days, the Texas Department of State Health Services reported 614 new and probable cases of the virus in Collin County, an average of 88 per day. One week ago, the county was reporting an average of 108 new cases per day -- a month ago that average was 90 cases per day.
In the last seven days, the DSHS has also announced 10 deaths in Collin County, an average of 1.43 deaths per day. One week ago, the county was also reporting an average of .85 deaths per day -- a month ago that average was .71 deaths per day.
Since March 2020, the DSHS has reported a total of 90,401 cases of the virus in the county including 74,356 confirmed cases (PCR) and 16,045 probable cases (antigen). There have been 828 deaths attributed to the virus; there are currently an estimated 89,649 recoveries and, according to the DSHS, an estimated 752 active cases in the county.
COVID-19 Latest
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.
