Tarrant County surpasses 100,000 COVID-19 cases as hospitalizations continue to rise

BY STEFAN STEVENSON NOVEMBER 30, 2020 03:10 PM, UPDATED NOVEMBER 30, 2020 03:17 PM

This article has Unlimited Access. For more coverage, sign up for our daily coronavirus newsletter. To support our commitment to public service journalism: Subscribe Now.

Tarrant County reported 3,356 coronavirus cases on Monday, a combined total from four days (Thursday through Sunday) because of the Thanksgiving holiday.

The massive load of cases actually averages less than a 1,000 cases per day, which is less than the previous nine days when the county has reported at least 1,100 COVID-19 cases.

No pandemic-related deaths were reported for the four-day span.

COVID-19 hospitalizations increased to a pandemic high of 24% of the 3,560 occupied beds in Tarrant County as of Sunday. Since dropping to 7% on Sept. 21, the rate steadily increased and matched the previous record high of 20% on Nov. 16 before dipping a few percentage points. The rate has been at least 20% the past week. The 20% high was first set on July 23.

As of Sunday, 74% of the county’s hospital beds were in use, according to county data.

Confirmed COVID-19 patients are filling a pandemic high 18% of all available beds in the county. It’s the fourth consecutive day the rate has been over the 15% threshold set by the state. If hospital capacity in the North Texas Trauma Service Area exceeds 15% for seven consecutive days, bars will be forced close again and other businesses would reduce their capacity to 50%.As of Sunday, there were a record-high 855 COVID-19 patients hospitalized in Tarrant County, up 21 patients from Saturday.

Tarrant County has reported a total of 100,650 COVID-19 cases, including 843 deaths and an estimated 71,114 recoveries.

COVID-19 causes respiratory illness with cough, fever and shortness of breath and may lead to bronchitis and severe pneumonia. For more information go to coronavirus.tarrantcounty.com or call the Tarrant County Public Health information line, 817-248-6299.

Here are the total pandemic-related deaths in Tarrant County by city through Nov. 30:

·        Fort Worth, 408

·        Arlington, 152

·        Mansfield, 31

·        White Settlement, 29

·        Grapevine, 24

·        Keller, 22

·        Azle, 20

·        Bedford, 18

·        Benbrook, 16

·        Grand Prairie, 14

·        Rural Tarrant County, 14

·        Haltom City, 11

·        Hurst, 10

·        North Richland Hills, 10

·        Forest Hill, 9

·        Southlake, 9

·        Euless, 7

·        Lake Worth, 7

·        Richland Hills, 5

·        Watauga, 5

·        Crowley, 3

·        Kennedale, 3

·        Saginaw, 3

·        Sansom Park, 3

·        Unknown, 3

·        Blue Mound, 1

·        Burleson, 1

·        Edgecliff Village, 1

·        Lakeside, 1

·        Pantego, 1

·        River Oaks, 1

·        Westworth Village, 1

TEXAS COVID-19 CASES OVER TIME

Texas daily coronavirus case counts over time, and the ten counties with the most cases. Tap the arrow button to replay the animation.

STEVE WILSON SWILSON@STAR-TELEGRAM.COM

TARRANT COUNTY HOSPITAL CAPACITY

Hospital capacity by available beds and ventilators for Tarrant County. Data provided by Tarrant County Public Health.

STEVE WILSON SWILSON@STAR-TELEGRAM.COM

https://www.star-telegram.com/news/coronavirus/article247507450.html?ac_cid=DM334565&ac_bid=-1280625399