Tarrant County reported five COVID-19 deaths and 69 new cases on Thursday.

The five deaths are the most since 10 were reported on Saturday. The 69 new cases are the fewest since April 2020.

The latest pandemic-related deaths include a Fort Worth man in his 60s, two Arlington women in their 60s, a Grapevine woman in her 70s, and a Fort Worth woman older than 90. All five had underlying health conditions, according to officials.

Tarrant County has reported 260,564 COVID-19 cases, including 3,500 deaths and an estimated 254,261 recoveries.

COVID-19 hospitalizations

Hospitalized COVID patients decreased by seven to 124. That’s the fewest confirmed COVID-19 patients in the county since 123 on April 19, 2020. The pandemic high was 1,528 on Jan. 6.

COVID-19 hospitalizations are at 3% of the total number of beds in Tarrant County and make up 3% of the 3,828 occupied beds. The COVID hospitalization rate of total beds has been at 4% or lower since March 23. The 3% of total occupied beds is the lowest rate since the county started tracking the data in April 2020. The rate was at a pandemic-high 38% on Jan. 10.

Confirmed COVID patients decreased to 2.50% from 2.69% of all available hospital beds in the North Central Texas Trauma Region. It’s the lowest rate since the county began publicly tracking the data on April 12, 2020.

Hospital beds

Tarrant County’s hospital bed occupancy remained at 80%, according to county data. There are 969 available hospital beds as of Wednesday. The pandemic low was 661 on Jan. 4.

ICU beds

Adult ICU bed occupancy decreased to 83% from 87% as of Wednesday. The pandemic high was 99% on Dec. 28.

Ventilator use remained at 204. Patients are using 26% of the 784 ventilators in the county.

Positivity rate

The COVID-19 testing positivity rate for Tarrant County decreased to 4% from 5% as of Monday in the latest available seven-day average data. The rate was last at a pandemic-high 30% on Jan. 7.

Vaccination data

According to Texas Department of State Health Services, 49.4% of Tarrant County residents 16 or older have received at least one dose of the vaccine and 40.5% of residents 16 or older have been fully vaccinated.

DSHS also reports that 80.3% of Tarrant residents 65 or older have received at least one dose and 71.9% of residents 65 or older have been fully vaccinated.

Tarrant County COVID deaths by city

Here are the total pandemic-related deaths in Tarrant County by city through May 27:

• Fort Worth, 1,429
• Arlington, 684
• Mansfield, 140
• North Richland Hills, 120
• Bedford, 108
• Hurst, 89

• White Settlement, 80

• Euless, 75

• Haltom City, 73

• Grapevine, 72

• Rural Tarrant County, 67

• Keller, 65

• Benbrook, 60

• Watauga, 49

• Azle, 47

• Grand Prairie, 38

• Richland Hills, 35

• Saginaw, 34

• Crowley, 32

• Southlake, 32

• Forest Hill, 29

• Sansom Park, 29

• Lake Worth, 19

• Colleyville, 15

• River Oaks, 14

• Kennedale, 13

• Edgecliff Village, 7

• Everman, 7

• Westworth Village, 7

• Blue Mound, 6

• Unknown, 6

• Pantego, 5

• Burleson, 4

• Lakeside, 4

• Pelican Bay, 4

• Flower Mound, 1

• Haslet, 1

Texas COVID-19 cases over time

Texas daily coronavirus case counts over time, and the ten counties with the most cases. Tap the arrow button to replay the animation.

Steve Wilson swilson@star-telegram.com

Tarrant County hospital capacity

Hospital capacity by available beds and ventilators for Tarrant County. Data provided by Tarrant County Public Health.

Steve Wilson swilson@star-telegram.com

This story was originally published May 27, 2021 at 5:53 PM.

Stefan Stevenson

Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Stefan Stevenson was a sports writer for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram from 1997 to 2022. He covered TCU athletics, the Texas Rangers and the Dallas Cowboys.