Dallas County judge blasts Texas’ ‘mixed messaging’ as COVID-19 surge continues
Dallas County reported 391 new coronavirus cases and four deaths on Wednesday.
It’s the eighth consecutive day the county has reported at least 391 new COVID-19 cases.
The surge, which has included the population centers across the state for more than a week, inspired Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins to lash out at Texas officials for what he says is a lack of leadership on containing the spread. Jenkins urged Gov. Greg Abbott to enforce stricter social distancing measures to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
“We need the Governor to either implement statewide the rules that we, along with business and health, came up with early on when urban counties were in charge of the state’s response that did a good job of curbing the spread or go back to allowing the flexibility to counties to do that,” Jenkins said in a press release and on social media.
“Because of all of the mixed messaging and confusion over the last six weeks, it would be best if there was a statewide plan on issues such as masking, workplace separation, workplace safety and limiting the number of people in facilities and at gatherings.”
Dallas County has confirmed 18,135 COVID-19 cases, including 328 deaths.
Health officials are reporting an increase of emergency room visits for COVID-19 patients for a 24-hour period ending Tuesday. Of the total ER visits in the span, 28% were for COVID-19.
The four deaths include two Grand Prairie residents — a man in his 60s and a woman in her 80s, a Cedar Hill man in his 80s, and a Dallas woman in her 80s who was a resident of a long-term care facility. All four had underlying health conditions.
COVID-19 Hospitalizations over Time
Coronavirus daily hospitalization counts in Texas and the larger Trauma Service Areas, beginning April 8, 2020. Data provided by Texas Health and Human Services.
Estimated active cases over time
Coronavirus daily active case estimates by local counties in the Dallas - Fort Worth metroplex, beginning April 8, 2020. Data provided by Texas Health and Human Services.
This story was originally published June 24, 2020 at 3:47 PM.
