COVID-19 cases in Dallas County took another big jump Thursday with the addition of 56 new positive tests and the official confirmation of the seventh coronavirus-related death.
County health officials said the additional cases brings the county's total number of infected to 303, an increase of 23% over the day before.
On Wednesday night, Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins mentioned a seventh person who had died after contracting the virus. On Thursday, county health officials said the victim was a woman in her 90s who lived in Dallas. She had been critically ill and hospitalized prior to her death, but she had no other known high-risk, chronic health conditions.
The day before, the county confirmed the sixth death after a Garland woman in her 80s, who also did not have high-risk chronic health conditions, died in the hospital after contracting the virus.
Get top local stories in DFW delivered to you every morning. >Sign up for NBC DFW's News Headlines newsletter.
"Of cases requiring hospitalization to date, about two-thirds (67%) have been either over 60 years of age or have had at least one known high-risk chronic health condition," the county said.
Dallas County residents are asked to help prevent spread of the virus by practicing non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) such as social distancing (avoiding close contact with other people, especially those who are sick), covering coughs and sneezes, and hand hygiene. Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces, and avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands. If you are sick, stay home.
New cases of COVID-19 are being reported as a daily aggregate, with a more detailed summary report updated Tuesdays and Fridays. All unspecified cases are listed on the map below.
Local
The latest news from around North Texas.
*Map locations are approximate, central locations for the city and are not meant to indicate where actual infected people live.
Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins on Sunday issued a shelter-in-place order for the county, effective Monday night at 11:59 p.m., requiring most residents to stay at home and to leave only for "essential activities." The order expires April 3.
Similar measures were put in place in Tarrant, Denton and Collin counties on Tuesday.
How to Avoid COVID-19 Infection:
The best way to prevent infection is to take precautions to avoid exposure to this virus, which are similar to the precautions you take to avoid the flu. CDC always recommends these everyday actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory viruses, including:
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Stay home when you are sick.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
*Information shared from the Office of Texas Gov. Greg Abbott
