Coronavirus live updates March 25: Here’s what to know in the Dallas-Fort Worth area
We’re keeping track of the most up-to-date news about coronavirus in the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area. Check back for updates.
Judge says he balances virus restrictions vs. the constitution
On Monday, about 30 people gathered inside a courtroom at Tarrant County’s juvenile justice center for 23 detention hearings. The amount of people inside the room went against CDC recommendations for gatherings and social distancing amid fears of a new coronavirus spread.
The next day, Judge Alex Kim said he would do what he can to comply with county and CDC’s restrictions against crowds in Tarrant County while also complying with the state constitution to keep an open court. On Wednesday, it was reported to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram that the afternoon’s detention hearings were kept to 10 people in the room at a time.
Tarrant County has banned gatherings of any size in the county, except for essential business, which the court falls under. Instead, the order, signed by Judge Glen Whitley, asks that people who are gathering at businesses and government entities deemed essential use social distancing — meaning standing at least six feet away from another person, which the Star-Telegram was told wasn’t happening in Kim’s courtroom Monday.
Asked about the number of people inside his courtroom, Kim said, “The problems with courts compared to other government agencies is that there’s open courts. The public is entitled to see what’s going on in courts, and that’s constitutional.
Trump grants Texas’ major disaster declaration request
President Donald Trump granted Texas’ major disaster declaration request Wednesday afternoon, making federal funding and support available to combat the novel coronavirus’ spread.
Abbott requested a major disaster declaration Monday, and had pointed to COVID-19 costs already exceeding $50 million for the state.
“Texas is aggressively pursuing and implementing all necessary strategies to limit the impact of COVID-19, and I thank President Trump for his swift action to issue a Major Disaster Declaration for the State of Texas,” Abbott said in a statement Wednesday. “The President’s declaration opens up new sources of funding for individual and public assistance that will help Texas respond to this public health emergency and protect public health and safety.”
Cases top 400 in metro area
Tarrant County confirmed 19 new cases Wednesday for a total of 90.
Dallas County confirmed its sixth COVID-19 death and 78 new cases Wednesday to push its total to 247. The latest death was a woman in her 80s with no high-risk chronic health conditions. The 78 cases are the most confirmed in one day in Dallas County.
Collin County had 53 confirmed cases, including one death, as of 9 p.m. Tuesday. Denton County added 15 new cases Tuesday for a total of 51.
That brings the total for counties in the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area to more than 400 as of Wednesday afternoon.
Texas gets federal grant for senior citizen meals
Gov. Greg Abbott announced Wednesday that as part of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, Texas has received a $16.2 million grant from the Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration to help communities provide meals for older adults.
Texas will receive its grant this week, according to the news release, and seniors can find services in their community through the Eldercare Locator, which can be reached at 1-800-677-1116 or www.eldercare.acl.gov.
“This grant is especially timely given the disproportionately high toll that COVID-19 has been taking on seniors around the world,” Abbott said in a statement Wednesday. “As social distancing measures increasingly and appropriately limit people’s social mobility, it is imperative that alternate means for feeding our state’s elderly like Meals on Wheels receive additional resources to handle the growing need.”
Dallas County inmate tests positive
A Dallas County official said a Dallas County inmate has tested positive for the novel coronavirus, the infection that causes COVID-19. That inmate is not currently housed in the Dallas County Jail.
It is not known whether the inmate is hospitalized or how the inmate was exposed to the disease.
Mayfest canceled
Fort Worth’s Mayfest, which is held annually at Trinity Park, has been canceled, officials announced on Wednesday.
The Fort Worth event, which was scheduled for April 30 to May 3, will return in 2021.
MedStar modifies procedures
MedStar ambulance service officials announced Wednesday they will not transfer to an emergency rooms patients with low medical complaints who are identified as potentially having COVID-19.
Patients will receive a full assessment by on-scene EMS personnel, and if they do not have any priority conditions or significant risks, they will be told to contact their primary care provider. These patients also will be provided with information on home care and self-monitoring instructions.
In addition, the patient will be given information on how to undergo further evaluation and testing for COVID-19 through the community health system processes available.
Conoravirus puts strain on nonprofit organizations
Catherine Hollis is determined that people in need continue receiving food and other assistance as the coronavirus situation worsens.
Hollis, interim executive director of Mission Central, a nonprofit serving Hurst, Euless and Bedford, said the “new normal” of the coronavirus crisis means that volunteers who help out at the food pantry were sent home and the two thrift stores that generate most of Mission Central’s revenue are closed.
Hollis shifted employees who were working at the stores to giving out food Tuesday through Friday afternoons.
“It’s been a whirlwind for us,” she said. “The most critical piece is getting the food out to those who need it.”
Leah King, president and CEO of United Way of Tarrant County, painted a sobering picture as nonprofits, already struggling to meet demands for service, were thrown into a tailspin because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It was as if overnight, someone turned on the spigot full blast. These organizations don’t have the capacity to address this new normal,” she said.
More cases confirmed in Collin County
Collin County confirmed eight new COVID-19 cases Tuesday, bringing its total to 53.
Two Allen women in their 60s contracted the coronavirus from a previously confirmed patient. None of the eight new patients required hospitalization but two of them, both in their 40s, have underlying medical conditions. Another new patient, a 27-year-old McKinney man, also had close contact with a confirmed case.
Eight of the 53 patients have recovered.
Dilemma: Go to work sick or stay home and not get paid
On March 14, Brian Summerlin drove to several gas stations in Tarrant County and surrounding areas for his job restocking inventories of food and drink. He woke up the next morning with a sore throat and a fever of 101 degrees. By the next day, three of his four children showed similar symptoms.
Doctors have told him he and his family have likely come down with the novel coronavirus. But neither he nor his children have been able to get tested. And without a positive test, his employer is not offering paid time off.
Summerlin faced a Catch 22: risk infecting others throughout Dallas-Fort Worth or sacrifice his income and follow his doctor’s instructions to stay home. He chose the latter and is now one week into an unpaid leave of absence he expects will last for at least another week.
Tarrant County stay-at-home order takes effect
Fort Worth and Tarrant County joined Texas’ most populous regions in telling residents to stay home except for essential travel, officials announced Tuesday in an effort to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus.
The combined orders account for 70% of the state’s population and follow a decision by Gov. Greg Abbott to leave shelter-in-place orders at the discretion of local authorities. The order became effective at midnight Tuesday.
The announcement follows a similar order from Dallas County. The declaration is enforceable through fines and possible jail time, officials said. Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price made the announcement Tuesday morning with Arlington Mayor Jeff Williams and Tarrant County Judge Glen Whitley.
“Today’s announcement is not meant to be alarmist or cause panic,” Price said, urging residents not to flood grocery stores in an effort to hoard food.
The stay-at-home order runs through April 3 in Fort Worth. Tarrant County’s decree expires April 7.
The decision to restrict travel came after a call with mayors and county judges from at least six of the state’s largest cities, Price said. Harris, Travis, Bexar, El Paso, Denton and Collin counties have prepared similar decrees.
Arlington pushes May election back, passes ‘stay home, work safe’ order
Arlington has rescheduled its local election from May 2 to Nov. 3 to comply with coronavirus recommendations from the state.
The election will decide who sits on the city council and determine whether the city can raise the sales tax within its limits.
At a Tuesday night council meeting, Arlington also approved a “stay home, work safe” order that reflects the requirements of Tarrant County’s order meant to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
Testing site opens for first responders
The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth has opened a testing site off campus for first responders — including police officers, firefighters, emergency medical technicians, paramedics and constables — who may have been exposed but are not experiencing symptoms.
First responders should contact the Fort Worth Joint Emergency Operations Center to be tested at the site. A University of North Texas Health Science Center spokesman declined to release its location.
5 cases of coronavirus found at Arlington Masonic retirement center where man died
More than 200 people at the Texas Masonic Retirement Center, where the first Tarrant County resident died from COVID-19, have been tested for coronavirus, health officials say.
Five positive results have come back, Tarrant Public Health Director Vinny Taneja said Tuesday.
Fort Worth ISD closes school until further notice
Fort Worth school district Superintendent Kent Scribner announced Tuesday that schools will remain closed and students will learn from home until further notice.
“All schools will remain closed until we believe we can safely bring students back to school buildings for in-person teaching and learning and other school-related activities,” Scribner said in a statement posted to Fort Worth ISD’s website.
SafeHaven domestic violence shelters full
For the first time in more than 40 years, SafeHaven officials on Tuesday said they would not be able to accept new domestic violence victims at the organization’s Tarrant County shelters.
The order in response to the coronavirus pandemic will be in effect until April 3.
“It’s heartbreaking,” said SafeHaven president and CEO Kathryn Jacob on Tuesday.
Jacob said SafeHaven’s shelters were full even before the outbreak of the coronavirus began. The 164 beds at the shelters in Fort Worth and Arlington are at capacity.
SafeHaven officials also must deal with distancing residents as required by emergency declarations. Authorities have ordered people stay at least 6 feet from each other.
“In other times, we would put some residents on a couch or use our gymnasium, but we don’t have the space,” Jacob said.
This story was originally published March 25, 2020 at 5:00 AM with the headline "Coronavirus live updates March 25: Here’s what to know in the Dallas-Fort Worth area."