COVID-19 UPDATE
COVID-19 VACCINE
Update and Priority
of Distribution Guidelines
As of this writing, Dallas County hospital census numbers have recently reached the
highest numbers recorded during the pandemic. Great concern remains regarding the
stress on our healthcare system, especially with the upcoming Christmas holidays,
A summary of the course of the
pandemic in Dallas County
can be seen by looking at the
following figures: “Dallas County
Suspected and Confirmed COVID-19
ER Visits in the Last 24 Hours” and
8 DALLAS MEDICAL JOURNAL • January 2021
“Confirmed COVID-19 Inpatients” in Dallas
County hospitals.
Key dates of note include:
• March 16, 2020 – Initial “Stay
Home, Stay Safe” order from Judge
Jenkins that included prohibiting public
or private community gatherings of 50 or
more; limiting restaurants to only provide
takeout, delivery, or drive-through services;
and closing of bars.
• April and May saw a plateau of numbers
of cases and other indicators and a “flattening
of the curve” as a result of the “Stay
Home, Stay Safe” order but did not see the
recommended 14-day improvement in indicators
for safe reopening of the economy.
• May 18, 2020 – Governor Abbott’s
Order GA-23, “Opening Up Texas,” including
opening of dine-in restaurant services,
bars, and other settings and prevented any
further local orders or actions that were in
conflict.
By Philip Huang, MD, MPH
Director/Health Authority
Dallas County Health and
Human Services Department
colder weather, and COVID-19 fatigue.