Tarrant County confirms its second and third coronavirus deaths, in Hurst, Fort Worth
A man from Hurst and a woman from Fort Worth are the second and third deaths in Tarrant County related to the coronavirus, officials said Wednesday morning.
Both patients had underlying health conditions. No other personal details, including age or how they contracted the virus, were released.
“We express our deepest sympathy to the families,” Tarrant County Public Health Director Vinny Taneja said in a news release.
The COVID-19-related deaths announced Wednesday were the first in the cities of Fort Worth and Hurst.
The Fort Worth woman died Tuesday, according to city officials. She had recently tested positive for the virus.
“Any loss of life is tragic, but this is particularly sobering,” Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price said in a release. “My heartfelt condolences go out to her family and friends during this incredibly difficult time.”
Price stressed the importance of maintaining social distancing practices, canceling social gatherings, and maintaining diligent personal hygiene habits. Slowing the spread of the virus protects those in the community who might be at a higher risk of severe illness or death, city officials said.
“Slowing the spread is a community-wide effort,” Price said in the release. “It is critical that all residents adhere to the Stay at Home – Work Safe Order, as well as follow the requirements listed in the declaration and the community interventions in place to minimize personal contact.”
A 77-year-old man who lived in an Arlington retirement home was Tarrant County’s first reported death on March 17.
Tarrant County also announced 15 new COVID-19 cases Wednesday for a total of 288, which includes 18 patients who have recovered.
Tarrant County has changed its reporting procedures to include provisional cases in its total number. Provisional cases are “lab confirmed, but pending due to missing investigational data,” the county said in a statement. “Those cases will now be included so that the news media and the public will have a better idea of what is happening in the county from a reported cases standpoint.”
Tarrant County Public Health staff will investigate to determine who the patients may have come into contact with before they tested positive, the release said. Close contacts may be appropriately isolated, monitored for symptoms and tested as needed.
This story was originally published April 1, 2020 at 11:43 AM.
