The number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 in both Dallas-Fort Worth and across the state of Texas is trending downward.
According to DSHS data, on Feb. 1 the number of people hospitalized statewide with COVID-19 dropped to 11,002, a significant decrease from the peak 14,218 on Jan. 11 but still higher than any number reported last summer.
According to Stephen Love, spokesman for the Dallas-Fort Worth Hospital Council, the number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients was 3,009 on Feb. 2, a slight increase of 34 patients from the day prior. The COVID-19 census as a percent of bed capacity was 18.9%.
The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is located in Trauma Service Area-E, a 19-county area of North Texas. According to DSHS data, the percentage of hospitalized people with COVID-19 in TSA-E dropped below 19% on Jan. 31 for the first time since before Christmas when the number of COVID-19 hospitalizations was still climbing.
The percentage of hospitalizations in TSA-E peaked at 27.17% on Jan. 10, about two weeks after the Christmas and New Year's holidays when many North Texans traveled to see their families.
If TSA-E drops below 15% COVID-19 hospitalization for seven consecutive days, the restrictions put in place in early December will be lifted.
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North Texas counties are located in seven TSAs, all of which show overall downward trends in COVID-19 hospitalizations. Three of the North Texas Trauma Service Areas, TSA-D, TSA-F, and TSA-G, have all dropped below 15% hospitalizations after hitting the threshold.
Dallas County reported that 914 individuals were hospitalized with COVID-19 on Feb. 1, a decrease of 15 people from the previous day.
In Collin County, the number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 increased to 481 on Feb. 2, but the number of hospitalizations has been trending down in Collin County since reaching a peak of 575 on Jan. 4.
Denton County reported that the number of COVID-19 hospitalizations on Feb. 2 was 179, down from 235 confirmed COVID-19 occupied beds on Jan. 11.
In Tarrant County, 1,063 hospital beds were reportedly occupied by confirmed COVID-19 patients on Feb. 1, a significant decrease from the 1,528 beds that were reportedly occupied on Jan. 6.
Love said the Dallas-Fort Worth Hospital Council has 119 staffed adult ICU beds available, with 37 in Dallas County, 35 in Tarrant County, six in Collin County, four in Denton County, 13 in Ellis County, three in Wise County, and 21 in the remaining counties.
COVID-19 patients represent 39.5% of all patients in adult intensive care units, Love said.
"We were gradually decreasing in COVID-19 hospitalized patients and we hoped this overall trend would continue," Love said. "The increase today is somewhat concerning as it is the second straight day we have had increases in COVID-19 hospitalized patients. Two days is certainly not a trend, but concerning because we had experienced steady decreases over the past 2 weeks. Thus, we will carefully monitor these metrics over the remainder of the week."
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.
Texas COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution
Data from the Texas Department of State Health Services shows where COVID-19 vaccines have been sent around the state. Click on a marker to find out information about each location. Use the "plus" and "minus" signs below to zoom in and out of the map.
From the Texas DSHS: Availability of COVID-19 vaccines lilsted on this map are based on shipping information and reporting to the DSHS directly by facilities. Please contact providers in advance to confirm vaccination location and hours, that they have vaccine on hand and that you are eligible for vaccination at that site. Not all providers are vaccinating the public or people in all priority groups. Vaccine is available at no charge, regardless of insurance status.
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.
