Hospitals in North Texas reported a record number of COVID-19 patients Sunday with 3,368. According to the Texas Department of State Health Services, COVID-19 patients are now using 22.44% of hospital capacity across the 19 county region.
"The vaccine's out there, but it's going to take months before we get it out there to the general public," says Dallas County Health and Human Services Director Phil Huang.
Hospitals in the area had 89 available ICU beds Sunday, up from 78 open ICU beds ten days ago. Huang says he does expect case numbers to increase in January as a result of people getting together over Christmas.
"Some of it's not just the availability of hospital beds, but it's really the staffing," he says. "The front line staff, these heroes, they're really stressed to the max."
Dallas County reported 6,144 COVID-19 cases and 11 deaths Sunday. Those figures included numbers from three days over Christmas.
The state reported 508 cases and one death in Collin County Sunday. Denton County does not release numbers on Sundays.
Tarrant County reported 2,217 cases and 18 deaths Sunday.
"We've got the vaccines in now," says Tarrant County Judge Glen Whitley. "Hopefully, I think they've given everybody hope and a little light at the end of the tunnel."
But Whitley says people will need to keep following guidelines to help Tarrant County and all of North Texas host fans safely for large events in Arlington over the next month.
"I just want to ask folks to wear the masks, wash their hands, social distance so these things can go on, life can go on," Whitley says.
The Cotton Bowl Classic is scheduled Wednesday evening in Arlington. The Rose Bowl was moved from Pasadena, California to AT&T Stadium and will take place this Friday. California would not allow fans for the CFP semifinal. About 16,000 people can attend the game in Arlington.
On January 15 and 16, AT&T Stadium is scheduled to host the UIL Class 5A and 6A high school football championships.
