5 things to know about the COVID-19 red risk level in North Texas

COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations continue to climb. On Thursday, in Dallas, Collin and Tarrant Counties, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention boosted the risk level to red.

The designation warns of high community spread and signals a change in the federal government’s recommendations for staying safe. But Dallas County is maintaining its yellow level for now.

Case counts are likely much higher than reported, as more people test themselves for the virus at home or forego testing altogether. BA.5, which recently took over as the dominant COVID-19 strain in the U.S., appears to cause less severe symptoms than its predecessors, but some groups are still at risk, including the immunocompromised and people over age 65.

A total of 6,578 people in Dallas County have died from COVID-19 as of Wednesday.

Here’s what you need to know about the changing guidelines and staying safe.

The CDC is at red, but Dallas County remains at yellow

The CDC measures community spread level using a combination of three metrics: total new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people, total new COVID-19 hospital admissions per 100,000 people, and percentage of inpatient beds occupied by COVID-19 patients.

Dallas County’s own internal COVID-19 level was in the low-risk green category less than two weeks ago until Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins moved it to yellow using the county’s rating system. Dallas County is sticking with the yellow level, said Dr. Philip Huang, the county’s top public health official.

“Transmission is definitely increasing a lot, hospital numbers are going up, and people should be more cautious,” Huang said. “I wouldn’t say it’s an inconsistent message. I think they’ve got a different scoring system.”

The county’s public health advisory committee, which recommends COVID-19 rating changes to Judge Jenkins, will meet Tuesday to determine if they will match the CDC.

Mask up indoors

Under the red designation, which signifies high community spread, the CDC recommends everyone wear masks indoors when in public and on public transit. That a step up from the yellow designation, which recommends indoor masking only for people with a high risk of severe illness.

Masks can contain droplets and particles when people breathe, cough or sneeze. If they fit closely to the face, they can also protect against particles spread by others.

Respirators, on the other hand, are made to protect the wearer by filtering the air and fitting closely on the face to filter out particles, including the virus that causes COVID-19. Respirators can also contain droplets and particles that the wearer breathes out, to prevent spread to others.

The CDC recommends a well-fitting disposable surgical mask and KN95s.

Get tested

The CDC says testing is important to reduce the spread of the virus.

Homes in the U.S. became eligible for a third round of free at-home tests in May. The third round will contain a total of eight tests shipped via USPS in two separate packages. The tests are available from covidtests.gov.

It takes less time — usually under an hour — to get the results of antigen tests than it does with molecular, or PCR, tests. But rapid tests are considered less effective when trying to rule out an active infection, and negative results could require further confirmation through a molecular test.

Molecular tests can take up to a week to produce results but are considered highly accurate.

Stay current with COVID-19 vaccines, including boosters

Anyone age 5 and older can receive a booster dose, while those who are older than 50 or are older than 12 and immunocompromised can receive a second booster dose at least four months after the first.

Federal regulators have also approved a children’s dose of the COVID-19 vaccine for kids 6 months to 4 years old. The age group can receive either the Moderna vaccine series, which requires two doses four to eight weeks apart, or the Pfizer series, which requires three doses about eight weeks apart.

To find a free vaccine near you, search vaccines.gov, text your ZIP code to 438829, or call 1-800-232-0233.

Increase ventilation

The CDC recommends increasing ventilation when indoors by turning on fans or opening windows.

• If it’s safe to do so, open doors and windows as much as you can to bring in fresh, outdoor air. While it’s better to open them widely, even cracking open a window slightly can help. Open multiple doors and windows to allow more fresh air to move inside.
• If opening windows or doors is unsafe, consider other approaches for reducing virus particles in the air, such as using air filtration and bathroom and stove exhaust fans.
• Use pleated filters in your home’s central heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system and replace them every three months. Pleated filters are more efficient than ordinary furnace filters at trapping virus particles.