Tarrant reports 23 COVID deaths, first positive test rate increase in a month
Tarrant County reported 23 COVID-19 deaths and 548 new cases on Friday.
The 548 new cases are the fewest since 421 were reported on Dec. 21.
The latest COVID-related deaths include a Pantego woman in her 40s, a Bedford man in his 40s, a Fort Worth man in his 50s, a Pelican Bay man in his 60s, two Arlington women and a man in their 60s, two Fort Worth men in their 60s, a Fort Worth woman in her 70s, a Euless man and woman in their 70s, a man in his 80s from rural Tarrant County, a White Settlement man in his 80s, two Arlington women in their 80s, two Fort Worth women and a man in their 80s, a North Richland Hills man in his 80s, a Fort Worth man older than 90, a Richland Hills woman older than 90, and an Arlington man older than 90.
One of the 23 did not have underlying health conditions, according to officials.
Tarrant County has reported 554,896 COVID-19 cases, including 5,530 deaths and an estimated 508,381 recoveries.
Note to readers: Tarrant County does not release data on the vaccination status of recently diagnosed patients or deaths. Officials have released this type of data once in June and it showed that nearly 100% of the new cases reported at the time (from May to mid-June) were in people who were not vaccinated. Further, county officials said fewer than 200 of those new cases at the time were in previously vaccinated Tarrant residents.
COVID-19 hospitalizations
Hospitalized COVID patients decreased by 62 to 444 in the latest seven-day moving average. It’s the fewest since Dec. 27. The pandemic high was 1,528 on Jan. 6, 2021.
COVID-19 hospitalizations decreased to 10% from 11% of the total number of beds in Tarrant County and make up 11% of the 4,063 occupied beds. The rate was at a pandemic-high 38% on Jan. 10.
Confirmed COVID patients decreased to 9.93% from 10.88% of all available hospital beds in the North Central Texas Trauma Region, which includes 45 counties (divided into three regions). It’s the lowest rate since Dec. 29.
Hospital beds
Tarrant County’s hospital bed occupancy remained at 90%, according to county data. Available hospital beds increased by three to 461. The pandemic low of 357 was reported Jan. 10.
ICU beds
Adult ICU bed occupancy remained at 95%. The rate was last at a pandemic-high 99% on Oct. 7. Ventilator use decreased by nine to 296. Patients are using 34% of the 869 ventilators in the county.
Positivity rate
The COVID-19 positive test rate for Tarrant County increased to 10.95% from 10.87% in the latest available seven-day-average data. It’s the first increase since Jan. 15.
Vaccination data
Children ages 5 and older are now eligible for vaccination, so the following vaccination percentages have been altered by the Texas Department of State Health Services to reflect that larger population.
According to Texas DSHS, 68.30% of Tarrant County residents 5 or older have received at least one dose of the vaccine, and 59.99% of residents 5 or older have been fully vaccinated.
DSHS also reports that 92.51% of Tarrant residents 65 or older have received at least one dose, and 84.80% of residents 65 or older have been fully vaccinated.
More than 75.09% of Texas residents 5 or older have received at least one dose, according to DSHS. The rate of fully vaccinated Texas residents 5 or older is at 63.59%.
Tarrant County is offering free COVID-19 vaccines and testing at locations throughout the area.
Tarrant County COVID-19 deaths by city
Here are the total pandemic-related deaths in Tarrant County by city through Feb. 18:
- Fort Worth, 2,309
- Arlington, 1,047
- Mansfield, 207
- North Richland Hills, 195
- Bedford, 163
- Haltom City, 137
- Hurst, 128
- Rural Tarrant County, 128
- Euless, 126
- White Settlement, 106
- Grapevine, 98
- Keller, 90
- Benbrook, 78
- Azle, 75
- Watauga, 70
- Saginaw, 66
- Grand Prairie, 64
Crowley, 60
Richland Hills, 52
Sansom Park, 44
Forest Hill, 41
Southlake, 37
Lake Worth, 30
Colleyville, 28
Kennedale, 26
River Oaks, 26
Everman, 21
Pelican Bay, 12
Pantego, 11
Westworth Village, 10
Blue Mound, 9
Burleson, 9
Edgecliff Village, 8
Lakeside, 6
Unknown, 6
Dalworthington Gardens, 4
Haslet, 2
Flower Mound, 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.
Tarrant County hospital capacity
Hospital capacity by available beds and ventilators for Tarrant County. Data provided by Tarrant County Public Health.
This story was originally published February 18, 2022 at 4:00 PM.
