Dallas County sees 68% uptick in average daily cases of coronavirus

Dallas County announced May 4 that 237 additional residents have been infected with the coronavirus, setting a new record for the highest daily case count so far.

"Today's numbers continue an upward trend of positive cases," county Judge Clay Jenkins said in a release. "The local public health community is advising unnecessary visits to stores or group settings and to wear a face covering when you go."

Over the weekend, 400 new cases of the virus were confirmed. The county announced 181 new cases May 2 and 234 on May 3.

“I’m hopeful that the medical models will prove correct and [show that] we are nearing the peak,” County Judge Clay Jenkins said in a May 3 news release. “Much of that will be determined by the choices each one of us makes.”

Since Saturday, eight more residents died from the virus: an Irving man in his 20s, an Irving man in his 60s, a Richardson man in his 70s, a Grand Prairie man in his 70s, a Dallas woman in her 70s, two Dallas men in their 80s, and a Mesquite man in his 90s.

The average case count last week surpassed that of the prior week by nearly 68%. On average, 141 people were diagnosed each day between April 26-May 2. The county also saw a 36% increase in deaths week over week, Jenkins said in a May 2 statement.

The countywide total is 4,370 cases, which includes 114 deaths.

Dallas County coronavirus updates and information can be found here.