Dallas County has single-day high coronavirus cases; 5 more deaths include man in 20s
Dallas County reported five more coronavirus deaths and a single-day high 179 new cases on Thursday.
The latest deaths include a Balch Springs man in his 20s and four Dallas residents in their 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s. Three of the deceased were residents of Dallas-area long-term care facilities.
The county has confirmed 3,531 COVID-19 cases and 104 deaths.
County health officials attribute the increase in positive tests — the previous single-day high was 148 — to a change in CDC guidelines that allows front-line workers such as grocery store employees to be tested without symptoms at the county’s drive-thru testing sites.
“All of the above information points to the importance of limiting unnecessary shopping trips and avoiding crowds in this worsening situation,” Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins said in a news release. “With the Governor’s order set to open still more businesses [Friday], your smart decisions to protect you, your family and the community are more important than ever.”
Jenkins urged residents to continue staying home as much as possible.
“It’s beautiful weather and we’ve been cooped up for over a month but the underlying advice based on science from the health experts has not changed,” he said.
This story was originally published April 30, 2020 at 1:20 PM.
