Fort Worth’s coronavirus response defies CDC guidelines. Experts urge tough restrictions.
Health experts agree the only way to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus is to limit person-to-person contact for the next several weeks.
But Fort Worth and Tarrant County leaders have been reluctant to impose strict bans beyond limiting crowds to 125 people and cutting public space occupancy limits in half.
Local efforts defy CDC recommendations for crowds to not grow larger than 50 people and President Donald Trump’s suggestion that groups not exceed 10. Fort Worth’s response is also in steep contrast to the city and county of Dallas, which Monday closed bars, restaurants, theaters, gyms and similar establishments.
On Tuesday, Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price said restaurants and bars would have to close dining rooms and convert service to delivery or takeout within 24 hours. Tarrant County Judge Glen Whitley encouraged gyms, health clubs and other facilities to also close and said the county would force closures if officials felt owners were not obeying.
Other parts of the country have taken a more aggressive approach. At least seven counties in the San Francisco Bay Area have issued “shelter in place” orders, a step New York City may take in the coming days. Both have been hard hit by the virus.
Early Tuesday afternoon Whitley said forcing bars and restaurants to close for several weeks would risk small businesses shuttering forever. The county was simply not ready to make the call, he said. But by that evening, after a call with Tarrant County mayors, he urged closures with the warning of possible county action.
“I don’t want to have to threaten people,” he said. “Just stay home.”
The change in Whitley’s tone illustrates how rapidly local officials are redeveloping their philosophy.
States and local governments across the country are struggling to counter the health consequences of a potentially high amount of transmission with the economic and social consequences of limiting gatherings that enable that transmission, said Ellen Carlin, an assistant research professor and director of the microbiology and immunology department at Georgetown University.
Limiting crowds is one of the best physical measures to counter the spread of the virus, Carlin said in an email, because it is easily dispersed through coughing, sneezing or simply prolonged contact. Crowd limits can “flatten the curve” of the outbreak and lessen the spike in cases.
When people move easily and frequently cross city and county lines, crowd limits may be less effective, she said, so metros can benefit from common guidance, enforcement and messaging to people that move across the area.
“Human behavior is difficult to predict but yes, I think the contradictory guidance could be very hard on event organizers and others considering small to medium-sized gatherings that will pull from across the two jurisdictions,” she said.
Ben Neuman, head of Texas A&M at Texarkana’s biology department, recalled the nationwide endeavor Americans undertook to win World War II. Such a monumental undertaking may be what’s needed to eradicate this strain of coroanviurs.
“I would recommend taking the stronger action, even though it will hurt a little more right now,” he said.
Not one size fits all
A blanket approach to restrictions may not be the best approach, said Dr. Mark Casanova, president of the Dallas Health Coalition and a member of Texas Medical Association COVID-19 task force. Local officials must balance the status of the outbreak in their area with the potential economic impact, he said. The gradual rolling out policies seen in Fort Worth is common as health officials attempt to ramp up prevention in line with the outbreak.
“You have to weigh the consequences saving as many lives as possible and economic impact,” he said. “How do you soften the blow in both directions?”
Health officials lack a crystal ball to know what the pandemic might look like, Casanova noted, so while timing of policy is crucial, it will likely vary across the country for awhile.
But what is happening in one part of the state or country is likely to happen in another, Casanova said. Eventually even Fort Worth may face the decision to close businesses as New York and New Jersey have or order people to shelter in place as the California Bay Area did on Monday.
Casanova stressed personal responsibility and discouraged going out. While customers in bars, restaurants and other venues are expected to maintain a six foot radius in Fort Worth, keeping that space constantly virus free is “simply not feasible.”
For young people and those who are healthy, the disease may show no symptoms or a person may feel just slightly under the weather. That doesn’t mean they can’t transmit the disease to other, he said, making even more important for people to stay home.
“You got a lot of folks that feel well, and if they’re out there possibly transmitting to others eventually the chain will reach someone who doesn’t fare well,” he said.
Fort Worth reaction
Fort Worth-area residents were swift to react following Price’s announcement Monday night that restrictions would be tightened to from 250 to 125 for gatherings.
Comments under the Facebook Live stream of the mayor’s announcement included residents who believe the city should follow in the direction of Dallas.
“If Fort Worth starts having a disproportionate number of cases and deaths, it’s on you local government officials,” Karen Penrod wrote.
Star-Telegram readers reacted in the comment section under a post regarding the mayor’s restrictions. Some wondered if the new limits would be enough.
“What’s up Fort Worth? Why can’t you get on the same page?” Stephen Hillanbrand wrote.
Further restrictions in Tarrant County may be announced Tuesday evening after a conference call with city leaders, Whitley said.
“I strongly recommend now people use common sense and stay at home,” he said. “And certainly don’t go out and have a St Patrick’s Day party.”
This story was originally published March 17, 2020 at 5:39 PM.
