We’re keeping track of the most up-to-date news about coronavirus in the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area. Check back for updates.

Five more coronavirus deaths in Tarrant County; only two had underlying health issues

Tarrant County confirmed five more coronavirus-related deaths on Tuesday to bring its total to 18.

The ages range between 47 and 88, including two residents of Fort Worth and one each from Grand Prairie, Haltom City and River Oaks. All had been hospitalized locally.

“It is very unfortunate and disheartening for our community to see the death toll rising from COVID-19,” Tarrant County Public Health Director Vinny Taneja said in a news release. “These are difficult times for all of us; and particularly for the families and friends of those we have lost to this disease. Our hearts go out to them.”

Taneja urged residents to strictly follow the executive orders issued by County Judge Glen Whitley to limit movement to essential activities, stay home as much as possible and maintain social distancing.

“Based on all the reports we are seeing, we could very well be about to see a spike in COVID-19 activity in our county,” he said. “Although it is difficult to predict, we must do everything we can to prepare ourselves for what may be ahead. Early indications are that we could be looking at significant numbers of positive cases and many more deaths.”

All Texas state parks and historic sites to temporarily close due to coronavirus

Gov. Greg Abbott announced Tuesday that historic sites and state parks in Texas will be closed beginning at 5 p.m. in an effort to facilitate social distancing and prevent large gatherings due to the novel coronavirus’ spread.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the Texas Historical Commission will close all state parks and historic sites tonight and will reopen them at Abbott’s direction.

“Social distancing is our best tool to curb the spread of COVID-19 and save lives,” Abbott said in a statement. “The temporary closure of our state parks and historic sites will help us achieve this goal by preventing the gathering of large groups of people.”

Previously, many state parks across Texas had remained open in a limited capacity. Visitor centers, park stores and more had been closed late last month.

Tarrant County deputy positive for coronavirus; detectives back at work after recovery

A deputy with the Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office has tested positive for the coronavirus, while two detectives who contracted it last month have returned to work, an official said Tuesday.

A deputy who works in the Judicial Division of the department is at home and under medical care.

He was not at work in the two weeks before he was diagnosed with the virus, according to Lt. Jennifer Gabbert with the Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office.

Two detectives, Mark Smith and Jerry Brown, were exposed to COVID-19 last month and quarantined, Gabbert said. The two have recovered and returned to work.

“Upon their recovery, both detectives’ first inclination was to help the public by giving plasma to help fight COVID-19 in our community,” Gabbert said in a news release. “Both are taking steps in the process with Carter Blood Center to determine if they are suitable to donate in hopes their blood can be used to study and create a vaccine.”

Doctors urge those in need to seek medical treatment despite pandemic

Everyday medical issues haven’t stopped since the coronavirus began sweeping through our country.

Important medical needs for millions of chronic and non-chronic patients require the care of a doctor despite the prevalence of stay-at-home orders and social-distancing guidelines. The restrictions have made many patients in need hesitant to seek the necessary treatment.

Doctors at the Tarrant County Medical Society recommend calling your doctor. In many cases, treatment can be determined over the phone or through a video chat.

“By now, most physicians offer a Telehealth option for patients,” Omar Selod, a local doctor of osteopathic medicine, said in a news release. “Physicians can reach out to patients and conduct new evaluations or follow up visits by connecting through a smart phone, iPad, laptop, or desktop.”

Those with severe pain, of course, should either visit the emergency room or visit their doctor in person, TCMS says.

“We can hopefully address and resolve a problem and prevent patients from going to the emergency rooms, subsequently helping relieve stress on our local hospitals,” Selod said.

Drive-through testing available for Fort Worth-area residents with coronavirus symptoms

Tarrant County residents looking to be tested for the novel coronavirus can visit four drive-through test sites operated by Urgent Care for Kids.

Urgent Care for Kids has locations across the Dallas-Fort Worth area, and has two sites in Fort Worth and locations in Mansfield and Arlington that offer drive-through COVID-19 testing for both adults and kids. People seeking testing do not need to be existing patients of Urgent Care for Kids, said Brian White, the company’s CEO.

Tarrant County lacks federally supported drive-through testing sites, like the ones operated at the American Airlines Center and The Ellis Davis Field House in Dallas, leaving Tarrant County residents with fewer options to access testing. While some sites have opened in Tarrant, they have been primarily for first responders and patients being monitored at home.

In order to qualify for testing, residents can either participate in a telemedicine screening online or visit a drive-through location where patients will be screened in person.

The only requirement: that patients exhibit COVID-19 symptoms, which can include fever, shortness of breath, a dry cough and more, White said.

If a patient qualifies for testing, they will be directed to the nearest clinic and swabbed from their vehicle by a health care provider. Patients can expect to receive results from a private lab within one to three days, White said. The clinics report test results to the Tarrant County Public Health Department.

Urgent Care for Kids accepts various forms of health insurance, and White said there are options for people who may lack health insurance.

“In addition to this, we’re discounting all self-pay visits to $50 and waiving co-pays for those who are insured,” Care for Kids’ website reads.

Urgent Care for Kids’ locations in Tarrant County include:

• Urgent Care for Kids Alliance, 3400 Texas Sage Trail, Fort Worth, 76177Weekdays: 3-9 p.m., weekends: 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

• Urgent Care for Kids Hulen, 3000 S Hulen St., No. 180, Fort Worth, 76109Weekdays: 9a.m. - 3 p.m., weekends: 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

• Urgent Care for Kids Mansfield, 2251 Matlock Rd., No. 103, Mansfield, 76063Weekdays: 9a.m. - 3 p.m., weekends: 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

• Urgent Care for Kids Arlington, 6109 South Cooper St., Arlington, 76001Weekdays: 3-9 p.m., weekends: 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Texas nursing home patients being treated for coronavirus with hydroxychloroquine

Gov. Greg Abbott announced Monday that hundreds of thousands of masks, gloves and personal protective equipment have been delivered to the North Texas region. Meanwhile, in the southern tip of the state, Abbott said roughly 30 Texas patients are being treated for the novel coronavirus with hydroxychloroquine — a drug whose use has yet to be determined through robust clinical trials.

More than 80 residents and employees have tested positive for COVID-19 at the Resort at Texas City, a nursing home on Texas’ Gulf Coast, according to the Houston Chronicle.

Abbott said Monday about 30 patients at the nursing home are being treated with hydroxychloroquine to determine its success. President Donald Trump has said the drug could be “one of the biggest game changers in the history of medicine,” and pushed for its immediate use. While trials are underway, its effectiveness is unclear.

“They are, for the most part, in their second day of this testing regimen that will last several more days. We look forward to updating you as the week progresses about how this drug is aiding or not these patients at the Medical Resort Texas City,” Abbott said from a Texas Department of Public Safety warehouse in Austin.

Abbott also touted the state’s supply of personal protective equipment, and in a presentation given during the press conference, said the state has distributed more than 1.6 million face masks, 209,000 face shields, 2.7 million gloves, 169,000 gowns and nearly 7,600 coveralls between March 27 and Sunday.

Tarrant County reports coronavirus deaths for sixth consecutive day, adds 34 new cases

For the third consecutive day, Tarrant County reported two more coronavirus-related deaths Monday, bringing the county’s total to 13 dead.

Monday was the sixth consecutive day the county confirmed at least one coronavirus-related death.

The county also confirmed 34 new COVID-19 cases for a total of 452 known cases, including 41 recoveries. Fort Worth has 167 confirmed cases, including 12 recoveries. Arlington has 72 cases, including five recoveries.

A man in his 60s is the fifth person to die in Fort Worth, county health officials said.. A man in his 40s is the third person to die in Arlington.

Why Dallas County saw a big drop in newly confirmed coronavirus cases Monday

Dallas County confirmed 43 additional coronavirus cases Monday morning, a major drop-off in new cases after a rough several days that included multiple 100-case days, several deaths and 97 new cases on Sunday.

There are a total of 1,155 known COVID-19 cases in the county, including recovered patients and 18 deaths.

“While today’s positive case count is encouraging, I caution about reading too much into this number as several private labs were closed on Sunday,” Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins said in a news release Monday. “Having said that, the hospital systems are seeing evidence that the Dallas County Safer at Home executive order enacted on March 22nd is working to flatten the curve. Please continue adherence to the Safer at Home order to help save lives.”

Four more coronavirus cases confirmed at Denton living center; total at 337 for county

Denton County confirmed 33 new coronavirus cases, including four more employees of the Denton State Supported Living Center.

The county has 337 total cases, including 76 recoveries and seven deaths.

The living center has 50 residents and 43 employees who have contracted COVID-19. Some of the 43 infected employees live outside Denton County and aren’t counted in the county total.

McKinney woman, 93, is 4th coronavirus-related death in Collin County

Collin County confirmed its fourth coronavirus-related death and 19 new cases on Monday.

The fourth victim is a 93-year-old McKinney woman who had underlying health conditions. The other three coronavirus-related deaths were recorded in Plano, Frisco and Anna.

Of the 306 total COVID-19 cases, 117 have recovered. There are 366 people being monitored by the county and 1,034 negative tests.

Fourth Fort Worth police officer tests positive for the coronavirus, department says

A fourth Fort Worth police officer has tested positive for COVID-19, the department announced Monday.

The officer has been off work since March 20 and is home recovering and doing well, according to a Fort Worth Police Department news release.

The police department is taking every precaution to stop the spread of the coronavirus, the release said.

The four officers who have tested positive have all worked in the same unit and had limited close contact with others while at work, according to Manny Ramirez, Fort Worth Police Officers Association president.

The police officers association is communicating with the officers and has offered to assist them in any way possible. All the officers who tested positive are doing well and recovering at home, Ramirez said.

9 JPS Hospital employees test positive for coronavirus, according to new public info line

John Peter Smith Hospital has set up a phone recording with daily updates about the people they are treating for COVID-19.

People can access the information by calling 817-702-9500.

The message will be updated at 10 a.m. each day.

This change comes after the Fort Worth Star-Telegram examined the lack of transparency between hospitals and the public, and between the hospitals and public officials tasked with making decisions that will keep residents safe.

On Monday, the recording gave the following information:

▪ JPS is treating 10 patients for COVID-19.

▪ 36 patients are under investigation.

▪ One patient has died at the hospital (there are 13 deaths in the county).

▪ Nine employees have tested positive.

▪ 44 patients tested at the hospital received positive results (there are 452 cases in the county as of Monday afternoon).

▪ 284 people who tested at the hospital received negative results.

▪ 85 tests are pending.

Johnson County reports two more coronavirus cases, including first in Keene

Johnson County confirmed two more coronavirus cases Monday, to bring its total to 22, including four recoveries.

The new COVID-19 cases include one in Burleson, which has nine current patients, and the first case in Keene. Three patients in Burleson and one patient in Mansfield have recovered.

The 18 active cases include nine in Burleson, five in unincorporated Johnson County, two in Cleburne, one in Joshua and one in Keene.

Fort Worth hospital sets up temporary morgue in case of possible coronavirus influx

Baylor Scott & White All Saints Hospital in Fort Worth set up a temporary morgue outside its facility to prepare for a possible influx of bodies due to coronavirus.

A hospital spokeswoman said the external morgue is not being used yet, but is a precautionary measure since “local mortuary resources may remain at capacity longer than anticipated” due to shelter-in-place orders.

The hospital does not have a need for the morgue yet, the spokeswoman emphasized.

“This is an unprecedented step for us, but one we must take to be prepared in these uncertain times,” the hospital’s statement said.

Baylor Scott & White was monitoring the need for other resources, such as ventilators and hospital beds. The hospital was considering using vacant operating rooms and other empty areas to hold patients, a hospital spokeswoman said.

This story was originally published April 7, 2020 at 5:00 AM.