City of Dallas COVID-19 Update: April 6
Dear Friend —
I know you may have heard a lot about the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center. The important thing to know is that the City of Dallas continues to move forward with our plans for this much-needed asset.
We still anticipate a surge in COVID-19 cases, and we are working tirelessly to prepare for it. We believe our emergency restrictions are working, but the number of cases will continue to increase.
Stay strong. We will get through this. And we will do so fully informed with facts. In that spirit, here are some important COVID-19 updates.
Positive Cases of COVID-19
- 1,155 in Dallas County – 43 newly confirmed today
- 452 in Tarrant County
- 337 in Denton County
- 306 in Collin County
- 34 in Ellis County
- 16 in Kaufman County
- 12 in Rockwall County
Hospital Reports
Below are the bed and ventilator capacity totals for Sunday, as reported by twenty-one hospitals in the City of Dallas pursuant to the order I issued last week:
- Total beds: 5,236
- Beds occupied: 2,571 (49%)
- Total ICU beds: 778
- ICU beds occupied: 476 (61%)
- Total ventilators: 887
- Ventilators in use: 309 (35%)
My office is currently working with the University of Texas at Dallas’ Institute for Urban Policy Research to analyze the data we have been receiving from hospitals and other COVID-19-related data. I will share more information once it becomes available.
Lab Reports
As of 5:00 p.m. the City of Dallas Office of Emergency Management has received a report from five labs. Below are the numbers for today, Monday, April 6, 2020:
356 COVID-19 tests |
39 positive |
312 negative |
Testing numbers from labs to date
Total tests to date by DCHHS | 862 |
Total tests to date private labs* | 4,670 |
Total negative tests to date* | 4,480 |
Total active cases | 1,155 |
Total deaths | 18 |
Total recovered | 2 |
*Numbers since March 13, 2020, the date the order I issue requiring public and private labs in Dallas to report their COVID-19 tests went into effect
Community Based Testing Sites
The numbers reported from the two community-based testing sites for April 5 are as follows:
American Airlines Center | Ellis Davis Field House |
Total number of visitors: 148 | Total number of visitors: 108 |
Total tested: 131 | Total tested: 80 |
311 COVID-19 Call and Service Report (SR) Data
Data Set | Value | Notes |
New 311 COVID-19 Calls Received Today | 82 | |
Total 311 COVID-19 Calls Received to Date | 3,349 | Since March 13, 2020 |
New Emergency Regulations SRs Received Today (General) | 693 | |
Total Emergency Regulations SRs Received to Date (General) | 7,661 | Since March 17, 2020 |
New Emergency Regulations SRs Received Today (Parks only) | 24 | |
Total Emergency Regulations SRs Received to Date (Parks only) | 243 | Since March 20, 2020 |
Federal Medical Station (FMS)
- The United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has delivered a 250 bed Federal Medical Station (FMS) to the City of Dallas.
- The FMS will serve as relief for Dallas County hospitals by serving as a step-down facility for COVID-19 patients as they transition from the hospital to home.
- The operational date of the FMS is yet to be determined, and the opening will be guided by the demand capacity and need for hospital relief.
- Texas National Guardsmen have completed the initial setup of the FMS in Exhibit Hall F at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center.
- At this time, the United States Navy is confirmed to provide the medical personnel to operate the FMS.
- Should the Navy redeploy to another critical need, HHS has agreed to work with the Dallas medical community to identify additional medical staffing to operate the FMS.
- Dallas County has entered a contract with AECOM to assess the wrap around services such as food, cleaning, pharmacy and other logistical needs for the FMS.
- Dallas County Commissioners will consider approval of the AECOM contract for FMS wrap-around services at their April 7, 2020 meeting.
City Operations
- Each federally supported Community Based Test Sites (CBTS) will be required to close or transition by April 10 due to a shift in federal resources. Dallas Command is currently working with a vendor to provide turn-key laboratory services for the two sites. Status reports will be provided as the transition progresses.
- Since March 17, Code Compliance services has investigated 7,070 potential violations to the amended emergency regulations and has issued 2,461 warnings and five citations.
- The Office of Homeless Solutions (OHS) continues their operations of a temporary, overnight shelter at the (KBHCCD).
- OHS is also utilizing hotel rooms to house persons in need of quarantine or persons on the “priority housing” list.
Updates from Dallas County
- Today, Dallas County Health and Human Services (DCHHS) reported 43 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the total case count in Dallas County to 1,155.
- Of cases requiring hospitalization, about three-quarters (71%) have been either over 60 years of age or have had at least one known high-risk chronic health condition.
- Diabetes has been an underlying high-risk health condition reported in over a quarter (28%) of all hospitalized patients with COVID-19.
Dallas ISD Updates
- Today Dallas ISD Superintendent Michael Hinojosa updated local media on Dallas ISD’s response during the COVID-19 crisis.
- A decision to close schools for the remainder of the year has not been made. Hinojosa will send an announcement regarding closures in the following weeks.
- More than 98 percent of enrolled students have connected with their teachers via phone, email or virtually.
- Dallas ISD estimates from the stimulus funding to receive about $50 million to support needs such as: cleaning, meals distribution, technology, various materials and other essential services.
- Dallas ISD has reported 13 known positive COVID-19 cases of Dallas ISD staff members, officers and students. To follow FERPA and HIPAA laws, Dallas ISD will only share the location of where an individual worked or attended school. Below are the confirmed positive cases, to date:
- Three students
- J. L. Long Middle School
- Emmett J. Conrad High School
- Seagoville High School.
- Six Dallas ISD employees
- W.H. Adamson High School
- Gabe P. Allen Charter School
- Victor H. Hexter Elementary School
- San Jacinto Elementary School
- K. B. Polk Center for Academically Talented & Gifted
- Harold Wendell Lang Sr. Middle School (This employee passed away and is believed to have died after contracting the disease.)
- Four Dallas ISD Police officers
- To view the April 6 Dallas ISD news briefing click here. You can also find the full power point presentation here.
Food Assistance Needed
Dallas County and the North Texas Food Bank have announced they are launching a virtual food bank. This will help to fill in the gaps created by a lack of state and federal funding for food access. Donations instead of food are being encouraged and can be made by visiting www.DallasCountyCovid.org or http://ntfb.org/give. This link has more information on the program.
Dallas Resident Resource Guides
There are a number of resources available to residents and businesses impacted by the emergency regulations that have been put in place to slow the spread of COVID-19. The City of Dallas has created a Resident Resource Guide with information on:
- Rental assistance;
- Filing for unemployment;
- Connecting displaced workers to jobs;
- Food assistance;
- Help paying utilities (note: most utility disconnections have been halted during this time);
- Mental health resources;
- Business loan information; and
- Other key resources.
The guide is available in both English and Spanish:
Childcare for Essential Workers
Frontline Child Care provides information on childcare options for Dallas’ frontline workers. The site was launched by Governor Greg Abbott and various state agencies to make sure those still working through this pandemic have access to childcare. Check out the site here.
Dallas Regional Chamber Resources
The Dallas Regional Chamber has set up a site for additional resources for residents and businesses, including information on various state and federal programs. Check out their resource guide here and their site to connect displaced workers to employment opportunities during the pandemic here.
United Way Income Resource Guides
United Way of Metropolitan Dallas has put together a list of resources available to Dallas area residents in English and Spanish. Resources include the North Texas Food Bank’s open food pantries, tax filing information, and job opportunities.
Senior Source Resources
This is the link to the Senior Source’s COVID-19 resource guide. The guide includes information for seniors, including information on specific grocery store hours dedicated to seniors, and guidance for those who are caring for seniors during the pandemic.
If you have more questions about COVID-19, including what you should do if you believe you might have the virus, check out the City’s web page, www.DallasCityHall.com/coronavirus. Additionally, I frequently share COVID-19 updates as they happen on Twitter and Facebook.
Please share this update. The official page to sign up to receive this newsletter and the other newsletters I send out is here.
Stay safe, stay healthy, and stay informed.
Sincerely,
Eric Johnson
Mayor
City of Dallas
[email protected]
(214) 670-3301