Not of the woods yet – Kennedale reports 3rd Covid case while Tarrant and Dallas rise in numbers

Today, Saturday, May 2, 2020 marks a week from the last COVID-19 update by the Kennedale News. This week also marks the roll out a re-opening of the Texas economy.? {{more: continue …}}

?

The re-opening plan was met with a great deal of excitement but it came with a warning by Texas Govenor Abbott. He has good cause for his warning. The following compares last week’s figures as reported in the Kennedale News with this week.?

• Tarrant County reported 1,836 COVID-19 cases last Saturday. As of Friday the number had reached 2,388 for a total of 522 new cases.? Dallas County reported 2,834 last week and now has 3,531 cases. Meanwhile, the total for Texas has increased from 21,944 to 29,229, up 7,285

• Recoveries are up with Tarrant reporting 551 up from 283. Texas has 14,122 recoveries up from 9,986.? Hospitalizations are up with Tarrant County reporting 225 up from 165. Texas has 1,778 up from 1,597.?

• Death totals have reached 69 for Tarrant (up 16).? Dallas County has gone from 77 to 104 and Texas added 193 deaths for a total of 816.??

• Kennedale has recorded another case this week for a total of 3.

The burden of responsiblity shifting to Texans to do what is right? …?

In the latest move, the State of Texas is showing that it has enough confidence that Texans will step up and do what is right.? The burden of making re-opening work falls on the shoulders of individuals.

Governor Abbott emphasizes that Texans should wear masks, practice social distancing and continue to following recommended hygiene protocols.? He also recommended those over 65 should stay

at home.

For people who decide to visit the reopened establishments, Diana Cervantes, a professor of biostatistics and epidemiology at UNT Health Science Center, cautioned them to make sure the businesses follow social distancing and disinfecting guidelines and that they continue washing their hands regularly.

Neale Chumbler, dean of the College of Health and

Public Service at the University of North Texas said the May 1 segment of the

gradual reopening plan could be safe ? provided people wear masks over their

faces in public. The state is recommending but not requiring masks.?

Trends in County stats remain relatively constant …?

• 71% of those infected are ages 24 to 64 and thus are carriers
• 53% of those infected are males?
• 65% of the deaths are ages 65 and above?
• 61% of the deaths are males?
• Whites account for 27% of those infected but 47 % of the deaths?

Curve is still upward but not as steep …

?

The good news is that it is becoming less and less of a climb. Originally it was at a pace of doubly every two days. It slowed to a more gradually changed of doubly every 5 days but even that has slowed. If that pace of every 5 days had continued, Tarrant County would have seen case numbers as high as 6,756 today instead of the current 2,388.?

?

Tarrant County Stats Breakdown (as of 5/01/2020):?

Type of transmission …

• 26% – community known source
• 37% – community unknown source
• 10% – travel
• 27% – undetermined

Case % by sex with % of deaths …

• 53% are males – 61% of deaths
• 47% are female – 39% of deaths

Case % by age with % of deaths …

• 2% are less than 15, 0% of deaths
• 8% are 15 ? 24, 0% of deaths
• 34% are 25 – 44 with 7% of deaths
• 37% are 45 ? 64 with 28% of deaths
• 19% are 65+ with 65% of deaths

Case % by race/ethnicity … (Stats by death unavailable)

• 29% Hispanic, 22% of deaths
• 27% White, 46% of deaths
• 21% Not reported marked unknown
• 17% Africa-American, 28% of deaths
• 5% Asian/Pacific Islands, 3% of deaths
• 1% other, 1% of deaths

Surrounding cities reporting cases ?

• Arlington ? 467 (up from 342), 95 recovered (up from 43), 6 deaths (up 2). On March 24, 2020 the count was 14 cases with no deaths recorded.

• Everman – 4 confirmed case (up 2). No deaths recorded.

• Forest Hill ? 22 confirmed (up 3), 7 recovery (up 5), 2 deaths (no change). On March 24 there was 1 case and no deaths reported.

• Fort Worth ? 1,048 confirmed (up from 782), 228 recovered (up from 117), 43 deaths (up 13). On March 24, 2020 the count was 24 with no deaths.

• Kennedale – 3 confirmed (up 1), 2 recovery (up 1), no deaths.?On March 24, 2020 there were no cases reported.

• Mansfield ? 64 confirmed (up from 54), 20 recovered (up 5), 2 deaths (no change). On March 24 the count was 5 with no deaths.

• Unincorporated areas ? 50 confirmed (up from 43), 14 recovered (up 7), 2 deaths (no change). On March 24, there were no cases reported.

• Unknown location – 124 confirmed (up from 97), 5 recovered (up 5), no deaths reported. (This data changes as locations are identified).

Note: Tarrant County does not publish actual location or neighborhoods in their updates. Reports list data is provisional and is subject to change at any time. Deaths and recovered are included in the total COVID-19 positive cases. Incidence rates based on less that 20 cases are considered unstable and should be interpreted with caution.

Sources for this article …

Tarrant County Stats: coronavirus.tarrantcounty.com

?

State of Texas Link: Texas COVID-19 Dashboard