Denton County Public Health reports no new deaths Friday, but did add 483 cases of the virus and said the number of available ICU beds in the county dropped to four.
According to the county health department, there were 184 people hospitalized with COVID-19 on Friday, a slight increase of 10 new patients from the day before, and that number includes 45 people with the virus in ICUs. DCPH reported hospital capacity at 76% Friday, leaving 216 total beds available for future patients, including four in ICUs. The ICUs are 96% occupied and 50% of the ICU patients are COVID-19 patients.
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.
Of the 483 new cases reported Thursday afternoon, DCPH confirmed 448 are active while 35 have already cleared recovery protocol. The countywide total for cases stands at 56,303 with 40,832 estimated recoveries and 15,127 estimated active cases.
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“We hope everyone will continue practicing the necessary safety precautions to reduce the potential for the spread of COVID-19 in our communities. With the new U.K. B.1.1.7 variant identified recently in Denton County, the steps of social distancing, washing hands and wearing masks will be even more critical as we work to increase the availability of vaccinations," Denton County Judge Andy Eads said in a statement Thursday.
Denton County is providing free COVID-19 testing through the county health department. For times and locations, visit DentonCounty.gov/COVID19testing.
This week the county opened a mega vaccination site at Texas Motor Speedway where up to 10,000 people per day could be vaccinated against the virus.
To minimize the spread of COVID-19, DCPH asks all community members to continue to:
- Maintain at least six feet of physical distance in public settings and when around individuals outside of the household.
- Wear masks or face coverings, which should cover both the nose and mouth, in public settings and when around individuals outside of the household.
- Wash and/or sanitize hands frequently.
- Stay home if you are symptomatic, have recently had close contact with a person with COVID-19, or have pending COVID-19 lab results.
