DALLAS COUNTY (WBAP/KLIF NEWS)- After a fourth consecutive day of record breaking COVID-19 cases numbers in Dallas County, County Judge Clay Jenkins provided an update on the county’s fight against the virus.
The county reported 328 new cases and three deaths on Friday, but Jenkins believes increasing number could be due to more testing being provided. With this, the county will be adding two more drive thru testing sights. One in Vickery Meadow and one at Paul Quinn College. You can find more testing sights at dallascounty.org.
But Jenkins says the number of confirmed cases is not the most concerning number but rather the number of hospitalizations. Hospitalizations were hovering around 250 to 300 according to Jenkins but the county has seen a jump to 370 just in the past three days. The county has also seen a steady drop in the amount of ICU beds available since April.
“That’s not a good sign or the directions we want that particular indicator to be going,” said Director of Health and Human Services Dr. Phillip Huang.
Jenkins announced that the county in cooperation will be increasing the amount of contact tracing being done. The commissioners court authorized 10 million dollars for contact tracing efforts. Dallas County Health and Human Services Direct Dr. Phillip Huang in cooperation with Parkland hospital will be adding 260 staff for the effort. Jenkins also says they will be announcing a new method of contract tracing later this month.
Jenkins also provided some safety tips for apartment complexes. These include routinely cleaning frequently touched surfaces including, door knobs, hand rails, elevators and more while also providing hand sanitizer.
Health officials still encourage practicing healthy precautions such as wearing a face mask, social distancing, and washing your hands. The state continues to re open but Jenkins let citizens know that without cooperation, this will only last longer.
“We’re gonna be saying this sucks and I don’t know if this is going to get better and that’s when business’ go under that’s when people lose their jobs so to coin a phrase from Jerry Maguire help us help you,” said Jenkins.
