Hospitals in North Texas reached a record Monday with 3,476 COVID patients. The number reported by the Texas Department of State Health Services accounted for 23.36% of hospital capacity.
The number reported Monday was 108 more than Sunday.
A record was also set across Texas Monday with a total of 11,351 COVID-19 patients, an increase of 465.
Dallas County reported 1,243 confirmed and probable cases Monday and 15 deaths.
"Every life is precious, and every day it falls on me to report these deaths," says Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins. "The decisions you make today will determine how many people get sick two weeks from now."
Monday, hospitals in the area had 84 available ICU beds. UT-Southwestern says the number of patients in Dallas County has increased 19% over the past two weeks and forecasts another 20% increase by January 5.
The forecast predicts 2,700 infections per day by January 5.
"It puts you in a situation where you have to ration care or we have to give nurses and doctors way more patients than they're normally used to," Jenkins says.
He says people should celebrate New Year's Eve only with immediate family.
"Do those celebrations with the people you live with, stay out of the big celebrations and the crowds," Jenkins says. "That will really help the health care heroes help you."
Jenkins says he plans to sit outside and watch the fireworks with his immediate family.
"It's not what we normally do, but it's what we'll do this year to keep ourselves and our community safe," he says.
Dallas County reported 1,243 cases and 15 deaths Monday.
Tarrant County reported 5,991 cases and 18 deaths. That number included a backlog from over Christmas. ICU beds in Tarrant County are 97% full.
Denton County reported 454 cases and 11 deaths Monday. The state reported 418 cases and no deaths in Collin County.
