Dallas County hit a distressing milestone Wednesday, Jan. 19, when it was reported that the total COVID-19 case count had risen above 500,000. The exact case number reported was 500,072 and 9,381 of those were new cases.
Like most other cities in Texas, Garland’s case numbers are growing quickly.
As of Jan. 10
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As of Jan. 18
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Increase – Jan. 10 – Jan. 18
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Current number of cases in Texas
- 5,700,444 total cases
- 56,047 new cases
- 12,905 hospitalizations
- 76,277 deaths
Impact on health care system:
With the growing number of cases in Dallas County, the number of patients in the hospitals is also rising.
A UT Southwestern Medical Center report said that hospitalizations because of COVID in North Texas are “near record levels.” Additionally, per the report, hospitalizations in Dallas and Tarrant counties are projected to continue to increase. And the increases will put a severe strain on health systems and increase emergency room wait times.
For some possible light at the end of the tunnel, the report went on to state:
“…our forecasted peaks have been revised downward due to hospitalizations increasing at a slower rate, plateaus in test positivity rates, lower levels of mobility and increases in masking over the past week. Continued increases in high-quality masking and physical distancing in public spaces can further alter the trajectory of this wave and dampen its impact on the health care system and the economy. Test positivity rates are still climbing in the pediatric age group, and new pediatric hospital admissions have exceeded previous records. However, new cases and new hospital admissions will likely reach their peaks before the end of January, though the recent shift to older age groups may lead to a slower decline in hospitalizations than seen in prior waves.”
Impact on area schools:
In addition to the pressure on the health care system, the increase in infections has been difficult for area school districts. Some have been forced to cancel classes because of staff shortages caused by the omicron variant. Additionally, a bus driver shortage in some districts has created a challenge for students to get to school on time.
Garland ISD has experienced late arrivals of students due to the bus driver shortage. However, the district has not canceled any classes or closed any campuses.
Note: COVID tests are now available online at www.covidtests.gov.