DALLAS (WBAP/KLIF) – A continued rise in covid-19 hospitalizations could bring more COVID-19 restrictions to North Texas.
Per Governor Abbott’s executive order, bars must close and other businesses reduce capacity to 50% if the the COVID-19 hospitalization rate in a particular trauma service area stays above 15% for seven days. Dallas County Medical Director Phil Huang said the recent Thanksgiving holiday combined with the arrival of winter weather has doctors concerned.
“We’re starting out at a really high level to begin with so we really have the potential for some serious consequences here,” said Huang. With the cold weather and more people being spending time in doors, all of the factors are extremely alarming.”
If trends continue, North Texas could hit that mark by the end of this week.
“In anticipation of what we may going see from the Thanksgiving holiday, we’re thinking it may go in that direction,” he emphasized.
The North Texas Trauma Service Area was at 15.05% Friday, 15.63% Saturday, and 15.62% Sunday.
According to Dallas County Health and Human Services, of all confirmed cases requiring hospitalization to date, more than two-thirds have been under 65 years-old. Diabetes has been an underlying high-risk health condition reported in about a third of all hospitalized patients with COVID-19. Of the total confirmed deaths reported to date, about 23% have been associated with long-term care facilities.
Listen to Clayton Neville’s story below:
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