Mayor Eric Johnson creates new reporting requirements on ventilators, hospital bed capacity for COVID-19 response

DALLAS — Mayor Eric Johnson on Monday issued a new set of emergency regulations that require hospitals to report daily information to the City regarding bed and ventilator capacity.

The regulations also suspend board and commission meetings — excluding the Park Board and City Plan Commission and any other boards and commissions required to meet for pursuant to, or in compliance with, state or federal law — through April 29. Any meetings during that time must take place via teleconference or video conference.

In addition, the mayor updated the City’s emergency regulations to match Dallas County’s recent orders, including the new order regarding long-term care facilities and construction.

Mayor Johnson is implementing the City’s regulations pursuant to March 12 declaration of a local state of disaster, which is valid through April 29 unless the declaration is renewed or rescinded prior to then.

The reporting requirements are intended to help the City assess the needs of the medical community and prepare for a possible surge in hospitalizations related to COVID-19’s spread.

“We stand with our medical community. The leaders of hospitals in Dallas have been critically important sounding boards for me in the last few weeks, and we rely heavily on our front-line healthcare workers, including our paramedics, our nurses, and our doctors,” Mayor Johnson said. “They act heroically every day. We need them more than ever to get through this, and we will do all we can to help them during these difficult times.”

Mayor Johnson and other City officials plan to address the media at 10 a.m. Tuesday, March 31, in the City Hall Flag Room, 1500 Marilla Street, Dallas, TX 75201.