Since the pandemic began, Dallas has consistently hovered in the higher threat levels: yellow, orange, and red. Now, over two years after COVID-19 first was detected in the United States, Dallas County has moved into the green COVID-19 threat level.
The daily average for cases has fallen to a mere 68 of more than 1.3 million people living in Dallas. With 67% of the Dallas population fully vaccinated against COVID-19, County Judge Clay Jenkins praised the “good judgment and courage” of residents.
Cases and deaths have both come down since late January’s Omicron surge. Dallas has been slowly easing up on COVID-19 restrictions, with masks becoming optional in most public places beginning February 25. Dallas County went from red, which recommends that any non-essential activity is put on pause, to yellow in March.
Yellow, which is labeled as “Low Community Risk for Transmission,” limited non-essential travel and strongly encouraged mask-wearing and social distancing in public spaces.
The green threat level relaxes many of the higher levels’ regulations. Non-essential travel is acceptable; occupancy limits and mask requirements have been lifted in public areas such as churches and movie theaters.
Still, the Dallas General COVID-19 Guidelines recommend wearing a mask and maintaining proper space and hygiene.
“This green doesn’t mean we’re totally back to normal. This is a new normal in the era of COVID,” says Dallas Health Director Dr. Philip Huang.
Regarding the new BA.2 variant, Huang stated, “There is quite a bit of protection in the community through the combination of people getting vaccinated and some people who were previously infected.”
