How does Dallas County’s recent increase in COVID-19 risk levels compare to Orange compared to the last two times the county was in Orange?
DALLAS – Dallas County recently reverted to the orange or “extreme caution” section of its color-coded COVID-19 risk level table.
Judge Clay Jenkins posted a tweet late Friday night saying the county’s health committee had unanimously decided to take the move.
It does so at a time when COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are on the rise in not just Dallas County but Texas as well.
So here’s a look back at how this change compares to when the county was orange in the past to put the shift in context.
From red
May 2020, Jenkins first introduced the county’s color-coded risk level model for COVID-19. Dallas County started in the red section, which means it is “at high community risk” for spreading COVID-19. This is also known as the “Stay Home, Stay Safe” section.
However, Dallas County didn’t see any real spike in cases and hospital admissions through June 2020.
According to the guidelines, a red letter means that Dallas County’s health authorities are asking people to avoid dining at dinner and also restrict drive-throughs.
To see a more detailed breakdown of what each colored section looks like and what it means, you can click here.
Short switch to orange
On September 2, 2020, local health officials moved Dallas County to Orange for the first time. This risk warning level is also known as “extreme caution”.
The changes included health officials saying people could now safely start having small groups in their homes, among other recommendations.
Dallas County stayed orange for a little over a month.
During those six weeks in the Orange, Dallas County had an average of 361 new daily cases and 247 hospital admissions per day.
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The worst route in the red
On October 14, 2020, Dallas County health officials put Dallas County back in the red at that time due to a “new and rapidly escalating wave” of COVID-19 cases in the area, Jenkins said.
The county health authorities recommended that people stay at home and avoid eating as much as possible. The announcement came as many counties across the state approved the reopening of bars.
After this change, Dallas County, Texas and much of the country saw the worst spread of the COVID-19 virus from November 2020 to February 2021.
Back to orange
On March 24, 2021, Jenkins Dallas County moved back to the Orange for the first time in more than six months.
Despite an outbreak at an Addison school, Jenkins said the numbers were trending in the right direction.
“This move signals that doctors can consider more activities to be safe if appropriate precautions are taken,” Jenkins said at the time. “For example, travel for haircuts and other personal hygiene outside the home is now considered safe when masks are worn, and dining on a terrace at a reasonable distance is also considered a safe option.”
Dallas County would stay at the Orange for nearly four months, with cases and hospital admissions remaining at relatively low levels.
During that 12-week period, Dallas County averaged 129 new daily cases and 161 hospital admissions per day.
Yellow for about a month
On June 6th, 2021, Jenkins moved Dallas County one more step down to yellow. This is also known as “low community risk” or “exercise caution”.
This was the lowest since Jenkins announced the system in May 2020.
The health committee has lowered the Covid-19 risk level for unvaccinated people to yellow. For fully vaccinated individuals, the @CDCgov instructions apply. A full list of all activity recommendations under yellow can be found at https://t.co/2WA8Xp5T9e. pic.twitter.com/VB3ahamTib
– Clay Jenkins (@JudgeClayJ) June 14, 2021
In his announcement, Jenkins said the move to yellow was specifically intended for “unvaccinated people.”
County health officials said this means vaccinated people can be more comfortable shopping in store and certain trips. Vaccinated people could resume most activities without wearing masks, according to Jenkins.
For the third time in orange
On July 23, 2021, Dallas County’s health authorities returned to orange for the third time since Jenkins introduced the threat level system.
For the past six weeks, Dallas County had an average of 141 new daily cases and 138 hospital admissions per day. This is lower than the 6-week average from last fall and closer to the numbers when the county was in Orange earlier this year.
Because of this recently increased threat level, no new protocols or restrictions have been introduced.
According to district officials, it is a recommendation of precautionary measures for unvaccinated people.
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