This story will be continuously updated on July 19.
The state of Texas reported 7,300 new positive coronavirus cases Sunday, bringing the state's reported total number of cases to 325,030 since tracking began in March. The state also reported 223 new deaths Sunday for a total of 3,958 deaths since tracking began in March.
Dallas County's COVID-19 death toll has now reached at least 525 people since tracking began in March, officials said Sunday.
About one-third of those who have died were connected to long-term care facilities, data shows.
Two more victims were announced Sunday, both men who had been critically ill at local hospitals.
One was an Irving man in his 50s who did not have any underlying health conditions, officials said.
The other was a Grand Prairie man in his 70s with underlying health conditions.
Roughly two-thirds of those who have been hospitalized with the disease in Dallas County have been under the age of 65 to date, according to officials.
County officials also reported 1,044 new cases of COVID-19 Sunday, bringing the total since March to 41,266 people who have been infected with the virus.
Sunday marks 17 straight days the county has reported more than 1,000 new daily cases. The first time the county reached that number was on July 3, when 1,085 cases were reported. The highest number of new cases reported in a single day was on July 6, at 1,214.
The positivity rate across Texas has similarly risen in July, though it dropped from a record 17.43% Friday to 16.05% on Saturday.
Dallas County has had the second-largest death toll in the state, data shows, falling only behind Harris County. Tarrant County's death toll is the third-largest in the state, at 298 people. Officials there reported 422 new cases Sunday, raising Tarrant County's total to 21,617 reported cases with 10,382 recoveries since March.
Across the state, the death toll has steadily increased each day.
In June, Texas averaged about 25 deaths a day. So far in July, it's been about 80 deaths a day, although the past four days have seen death tolls above 100 people each day, with Friday's reported number reaching a record 174 victims.
It took Texas 117 days to go from one reported case to 150,000. But since then, it took only 18 days for that number to double from 150,000 to 300,000 total cases.
An estimated 169,581 people have recovered so far statewide.
Top updates for Sunday, July 19:
- Tarrant County residents can sign up for a free saliva COVID-19 test, Fort Worth officials said. Here's how.
- 85 babies in the area around Corpus Christi have tested positive for COVID-19, officials said. Experts believe a large level of active cases in the community is to blame, with one in every eight residents currently infected.
- Educators took to the streets Saturday in Denton to demand more health and safety measures to protect teachers and students from COVID-19 this fall.
Collin County reports 83 new cases
Collin County health officials reported 83 new cases of coronavirus Sunday, bringing the county total to 5,374 cases since tracking began in March. The county has reported 4,394 recoveries. Officials reported no new deaths Sunday.
Denton County reports 81 new cases Sunday
Denton County health officials reported 81 new cases of coronavirus Sunday, bringing the county total to 4,968 cases since tracking began in March. County officials also reported 49 new recoveries, increasing the total to 2,736. The county reported no new deaths Sunday.
New free testing site opens Monday in Dallas with no residency requirements
Dallas city and county officials are working with the Texas Department of Emergency Management to open a new free testing site in Dallas, County Judge Clay Jenkins said in a tweet Sunday.
The site at Mountain View College, a Dallas College campus in Oak Cliff, will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday and then from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. starting Tuesday. Testing will be available every day except on Sundays.
The address for the testing site is 4849 W. Illinois Ave. in Dallas. To get there, enter off of Duncanville Road and follow Mountain View College Avenue to the entrance of the site, Jenkins said.
Those wishing to be tested do not need to meet any residency requirements, according to Jenkins.
State officials investigating outbreak at church camp
The Texas Department of State Health Services is working on tracing multiple positive COVID-19 cases from a recent session at a church youth camp that was held in Hill County, a Tarrant County health spokesperson told WFAA.
Tarrant County officials are working to get in touch with church officials in Keller, the spokesperson said, while DSHS officials are gathering names and contact information for people who may have become ill.
Health experts recommend taking the following actions to prevent the spread of COVID-19:
- Wear a face covering.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Practice "social distancing" and stay at least 6 feet away from others and avoid large public gatherings
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
- Stay home when you are sick.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
- If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.
- Consult CDC’s travel website for any travel advisories and steps to protect yourself if you plan to travel outside of the U.S.
WFAA reporter William Joy and digital producer Jake Harris contributed to this report.