A week after Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins announced that the COVID-19 threat level had been returned to RED, and the situation remains unsettling. The level had been lowered to ORANGE for the previous six weeks.
As of Oct. 21, the State of Texas, Dallas County and city of Garland reported:
State of Texas:
- 838,809 confirmed cases
- 4,991 daily new cases
- 739,140 estimated recoveries
- 17,201 fatalities
- 84,538 estimated active cases
Dallas County:
- 91,313 confirmed cases
- 589 daily new cases
- 1,091 fatalities
City of Garland:
- 8,264 confirmed cases
- 1,002 active cases
- 7,194 recovered patients
- 68 fatalities:
Jenkins expressed concern about the rise in case numbers as well as hospitalizations in the following press release:
Oct. 21, 2020:
“We are seeing an increase in COVID-19 bed utilization at our hospitals and we are back to the highest numbers that we’ve seen since August in four of our hospital systems. It is not time to lose our resolve. Things will get better. We will get a vaccine but it’s imperative that we all wear our masks and avoid large crowds for now. We know what to do, we just need to do it and we need to do it now before we find ourselves in a terrible place for the holidays, winter and the beginning of spring. I know there’s a lot of COVID-19 fatigue setting in out there but now is not the time to relax your standards. Focus on what is safe as determined by the doctors and not what is legal.”
In addition, Jenkins warned citizens that the increased hospital numbers stress facilities as well as health care workers. He reiterated the importance of Dallas County residents following the necessary precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
- Avoid close contact outside your home and put 6 feet of distance between yourself and people who don’t live in your household.
- Cover your mouth and nose with a cloth face cover when around others and continue to keep about 6 feet between yourself and others. But remember that the cloth face cover is not a substitute for social distancing.
- Stay home when you are sick, except to seek medical care
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds and help young children do the same. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces daily using a regular household cleaning spray or wipes.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue and then throw the tissue in the trash. If you do not have a tissue, then use your sleeve, not your hands. Immediately wash your hands.
- Monitor your health daily and stay alert for symptoms. In addition, take your temperature and follow CDC guidance if symptoms develop.