Texas reports 42 COVID-19 deaths, 1,983 more cases; Tarrant County adds 2 deaths

May 16, 2021 steven

Across the state, 1,983 more COVID-19 cases were reported Saturday, including 1,678 new cases and 305 older ones recently reported by labs.

The state also reported 42 COVID-19 deaths, raising its toll to 49,877.

Of the new cases, 1,254 were confirmed and 424 were probable. Of the older cases, 212 were confirmed and 93 were probable.

The state’s case total is now 2,919,239, including 2,497,468 confirmed and 421,771 probable.

There are 2,287 COVID-19 patients in Texas hospitals, including 475 in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. On Friday, 2.9% of patients in the hospital region covering the Dallas-Fort Worth area were COVID-19 patients — below the 15% threshold the state has used to define high hospitalizations.

The seven-day average positivity rate statewide for molecular tests, based on the date of test specimen collection, was 4.2% as of Friday. For antigen tests, the positivity rate for the same period was 2.8%. A molecular test is considered more accurate and is sometimes also called a PCR test; an antigen test is also called a rapid test. Gov. Greg Abbott has said a positivity rate above 10% is cause for concern.

According to the state, 11,730,045 people in Texas have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, while 9,232,331 — 41.2% of the state’s population 16 and older — are fully vaccinated.

Tarrant County

Tarrant County reported two deaths and 118 cases Saturday.

The latest victims included a Fort Worth man in his 80s and an Arlington man in his 70s who both had underlying health conditions.

Of the new cases, 84 were confirmed and 34 were probable. The numbers bring the county’s case total to 259,213, including 217,312 confirmed and 41,901 probable. The death toll is 3,469.

According to the county, 164 people are hospitalized with the virus as of Friday.

According to the state, 797,657 people in Tarrant County have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, while 645,490 — 39.9% of the county’s population 16 and older — are fully vaccinated.

Collin County

The state added no new deaths and 54 cases to Collin County’s totals Saturday.

No details about the latest victims were available.

Of the new cases, 34 were confirmed and 20 were probable. The numbers bring the county’s case total to 90,880, including 74,655 confirmed and 16,225 probable. The death toll is 831.

According to the county, 76 people are hospitalized with the virus.

According to the state, 497,128 people in Collin County have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, while 410,693 — 51.2% of the county’s population 16 and older — are fully vaccinated.

Denton County

Denton County no longer released COVID-19 data over the weekend.

As of Friday, the county had reported 75,364 coronavirus cases — 55,387 confirmed and 19,977 probable. The death toll was 536.

According to the county, 23 people were hospitalized with the virus.

According to the state, 389,479 people in Denton County have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, while 315,137 — 45.2% of the county’s population 16 and older — are fully vaccinated.

Other counties

The Texas Department of State Health Services has taken over reporting for these other North Texas counties. In some counties, new data may not be reported every day.

The latest numbers are: