For the seventh consecutive day, Dallas County Health and Human Services confirmed more than 300 new COVID-19 cases. Eight additional deaths were also reported — two women in their 90s, a woman in her 70s, a woman in her 40s, a man in his 30s and two men in their 60s. These patients lived in Dallas. The count also included one Hutchins man in his 40s. All the victims had underlying health conditions.
Garland totals also took an upward turn today. The Garland Health Department reported 1,257 confirmed cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) in Garland residents, as well as 21 deaths. So far, 740 Garland cases have recovered.
The number of cases in Dallas County has reached 14,843 and 293 individuals have died. It is estimated that 9,294 people have recovered.
New records in hospitalizations also continue to be set with today’s total at 2,518. In a press conference today, Gov. Greg Abbott assured Texans that hospitals have the capacity to deal with the increased number of COVID-19 patients.
Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins, along with the mayors of Houston, San Antonio, Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth and several other Texas cities, asked the governor for help in getting people to wear face coverings. In a back and forth exchange, Abbott accused Jenkins of wanting to jail people for not wearing masks and said that he does not believe that it is appropriate.
The governor asked 20-somethings to be more vigilant and added that the number of Texans under 30 have been testing positive at a higher rate than in previous months. He added that he had seen pictures taken in Texas bars that show people not following the social distancing guidelines for bars. The governor gave a reminder that bars can lose their liquor licenses for 30 or 60 days for not adhering to the guidelines.
Social distancing and wearing face coverings continue to be the best defense against the virus and Abbott urged Texans to continue to follow these important safety guidelines.
The governor said that he believes that the numbers will begin to decrease now that most people in Texas nursing homes and jails have now been tested and reported.