Dallas County Health and Human Services announced Monday, November 1, that the county has now recorded a total of five thousand COVID-19 fatalities amongst residents.

Dallas County has recorded over 406,000 cases of COVID-19 giving Dallas County a 1.32% death rate, or a 98.68% survival rate.

In a statement, Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins said that there have now been 70,000 COVID-19-related deaths in Texas, with 5,000 recorded in Dallas County.

“These are not just numbers,” Jenkins said in the statement. “Each life lost left behind a grieving family. And with the emergence of safe and effective vaccines, hospitalization and death is largely preventable.”

Jenkins also encouraged Dallas County residents to get vaccinated. He warned residents not to be one of those who get the virus because they refuse to get the vaccine and spread it to their loved ones, thereby making their loved ones pay for their vaccine hesitance.

Although, the CDC has confirmed vaccinated individuals can still spread the virus. The CDC website states, “If you are fully vaccinated and become infected with the Delta variant, you can spread the virus to others.”

Jenkins said in his statement that the coronavirus vaccines have proven to be safe and effective.

“If you or your child is unvaccinated and eligible for vaccination, please get vaccinated now,” Jenkins said.

Jenkins also urged residents to continue encouraging and talking to those around them who have not been vaccinated so they can get the shot.

Dallas County now has a cumulative total of 342,973 confirmed cases and a cumulative total of 62,193 probable cases.