City of Dallas COVID-19 Update: April 7

Dear Friend —

Dallas County now has more than 1,200 confirmed COVID-19 cases. Of those, 733 are City of Dallas residents.

These numbers will continue to rise in the days ahead. We will experience pain and tragedy. We will be tested. But we will not break.

We are working to mitigate the damage of this pandemic, and we are still working toward our recovery. You will hear more about all of this in the days ahead.

Until then, stay informed. Here are the latest updates from the City on our COVID-19 response:

Positive Cases of COVID-19 in North Texas

1,261 in Dallas County – 106 newly confirmed today
517 in Tarrant County
366 in Denton County
343 in Collin County
44 in Ellis County
16 in Kaufman County
15 in Rockwall County

Hospital Reports

Below are the bed and ventilator capacity totals for Monday, as reported by twenty-four hospitals in the City of Dallas pursuant to the order I issued last week:

Total beds: 5,353
Beds occupied: 2,726 (51%)

Total ICU beds: 782
ICU beds occupied: 482 (62%)

Total ventilators: 894
Ventilators in use: 322 (36%)

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 ten labs. Below are the numbers for today, Tuesday, April 7, 2020:

264 COVID-19 tests

36 positive

227 negative

Testing numbers from labs to date

Total tests to date by DCHHS	924
Total tests to date private labs*	4,926
Total negative tests to date*	4,755
Total active cases	1,261
Total deaths	19
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 6 are as follows:

American Airlines Center	Ellis Davis Field House
Total number of visitors: 358	Total number of visitors: 223
Total tested: 243	Total tested: 158

311 COVID-19 Call and Service Report (SR) Data

Data Set	Value	Notes
New 311 COVID-19 Calls Received Today	99
Total 311 COVID-19 Calls Received to Date	3,448	Since March 13, 2020
New Emergency Regulations SRs Received Today (General)	774
Total Emergency Regulations SRs Received to Date (General)	8,435	Since March 17, 2020
New Emergency Regulations SRs Received Today (Parks only)	8
Total Emergency Regulations SRs Received to Date (Parks only)	251	Since March 20, 2020

City Operations

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services decided to extend federal funding to support the COVID-19 Community Based Testing Sites (CBTS) until April 30, 2020.
Staff is exploring options to extend operations of the testing sites through May as may be necessary.
The operational date of the Federal Medical Station (FMS) is yet to be determined, and the opening will be guided by the demand capacity and need for hospital relief.
The Office of Homeless Solutions (OHS) continues their operations of a temporary, overnight shelter at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center (KBHCC). Last night the KBHCC housed 350 overnight guests.
OHS is also utilizing hotel rooms to house persons in need of quarantine or persons on the “priority housing” list. Last night 97 people received shelter at local hotels.
Here are links to the latest FAQ documents regarding essential businesses for the stay-at-home orders: English & Spanish

Updates from Dallas County

Dallas County has entered a contract with AECOM, an American multinational engineering firm, to assess the wrap around services such as food, cleaning, pharmacy and other logistical needs for the FMS.
AECOM plans to have a cost estimate for commissioners to consider by April 8. Once the cost is approved, contractors can be mobilized within two days.
This is a map of confirmed COVID-19 cases per zip code in Dallas County as of April 6, 2020.
Additionally, this is a breakdown of race/ethnicity for reported positive cases. Please note, the County only has this data for 65% of cases at this time. I am urging the reporting of race/ethnicity data on the COVID-19 related fatalities. I suspect there will be a wider disparity in who dies from the coronavirus than who contracts it due to underlying chronic health conditions and lack of access to quality healthcare. Once this data has been made available, it will be shared.
Today Dallas County Health and Human Services (DCHHS) reported 106 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the total case count in Dallas County to 1,261.
DCHHS reported the 19th death from COVID-19 was a Garland resident with underlying high-risk health conditions.
Of COVID-19 case patients that are required to be hospitalized, about three-quarters 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 in over a quarter of all hospitalized patients with COVID-19.

Wrongful Eviction Assistance

Dallas County established a tenant helpline for tenants who have been evicted despite the order or who are pending eviction. Before reaching out residents are advised of the following:

Tenants engaged in criminal activity or causing an imminent threat to health and safety may be subject to eviction prior to the aforementioned date.
Tenants maintain responsibility for paying their rent.
Tenants are encouraged to contact their landlord and make sure they are aware when eviction moratoriums are in place.
When having difficulty paying rent, tenants should attempt to make payments and/or establish a payment schedule with their landlord.

Information about the initial order suspending evictions, is available in English and Spanish at: https://www.dallascounty.org/covid-19/tenant-hotline.php

Email: [email protected] | Call: 214-653-6563 or 833-743-0072*

*Please note the hotline calls are being monitored by the Dallas County Unincorporated Services Department (in case callers receive their voicemail).

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