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

Congressman: Black community not taking coronavirus seriously

Police officers did not break up two large gatherings happening near them Wednesday night in southeast Fort Worth despite stay-at-home orders because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Rep. Marc Veasey, D-Fort Worth, caught one of the gatherings on video and posted it on Facebook.

The group, made up of mostly young black adults, according to Veasey, were at a convenience store parking lot near the corner of Miller Avenue and Hardeman Street to celebrate the life of a friend who had recently died.

Veasey, who also posted an image of an even larger outdoor barbecue gathering of older adults near the corner of Miller Avenue and Berry Street, said Fort Worth police officers were at a Shipley Do-Nuts near the scene of both gatherings, but did nothing.

“I could not believe it. To see two large African-American gatherings with people literally back to back from one another, packed together, I was shocked,” Veasey told the Star-Telegram.

Veasey was alarmed by the scenes, in part, because of what has been reported in other cities already hit hard by the pandemic, where African-American communities are making up a disproportionate number of coronavirus patients and deaths. In St. Louis, Missouri, for example, all 12 reported COVID-19-related deaths as of Wednesday evening were African-Americans. In Louisiana, African-Americans make up 70% of coronavirus deaths despite making up 32% of the population.

More than 761,000 Texans have field for unemployment

More than 761,000 Texans have filed for unemployment in the past four weeks — more than the total number of claims filed in 2019.

The stark increase in claims comes amid layoffs, reduced hours and businesses forced to close in light of the novel coronavirus’ spread and stay-at-home orders.

In the week ending on April 4, 313,832 Texans filed for unemployment insurance — a 13.6% increase from the 276,185 Texans who had filed the week before, according to figures released Thursday from the U.S. Department of Labor.

Meanwhile in 2019, nearly 689,000 unemployment claims had been filed by Texans for the entire year, according to the U.S. Department of Labor’s figures. Nationwide, 6.6 million Americans applied for unemployment benefits last week.

Woman in her 60s is the 20th coronavirus death in Tarrant County, 8th in Fort Worth

A Fort Worth woman in her 60s is the 20th coronavirus-related death in Tarrant County.

It’s the eighth COVID-19-related death in Fort Worth. The woman had underlying medical conditions.

There have been three deaths in Arlington, two in Forest Hill, two in Haltom City and one each in Euless, Hurst, Grand Prairie, River Oaks and Southlake.

There have been 637 confirmed coronavirus cases in Tarrant County as of Thursday, an increase of 49 cases from Wednesday. The total includes 61 recovered patients.

“The best way to fight this illness for now is to stay at home and not catch it in the first place,” Tarrant County Public Health Director Vinny Taneja said in a release.

Two elderly men are Dallas County’s 21st, 22nd coronavirus deaths as cases spike again

Dallas County confirmed two more coronavirus-related deaths Thursday and 108 new cases to push the total confirmed patients to 1,432.

The latest victims were a man in his 80s who was a resident of a long-term care facility and in hospice care and a DeSoto man in his 70s who had been hospitalized.

Thursday’s new case report increased by 45 patients from the day before, when 63 new cases were reported.

About 70% of patients requiring hospitalization have been 60 or older or have at least one known high-risk chronic health condition. Almost 30% of hospitalized COVID-19 patients have been diabetic.

Fort Worth’s transit buses keep rolling, while most people stay home for coronavirus

Howard Estell spends his work days in a 35-foot metal tube on rubber wheels, breathing the same air as dozens of other Fort Worth-area residents.

Estell works at Trinity Metro, Fort Worth’s transit agency, where he has been a bus driver for nearly 17 years. Each morning, he puts on rubber gloves and a cloth mask to make his rounds, and he keeps a small bottle of sanitizer attached to his belt loop.

Although Trinity Metro sprays all its buses with disinfectant after each fueling — usually at least a couple of times per day — Estell also cleans the surfaces with his own sanitary wipe when he steps aboard. But other than taking those precautions, he doesn’t worry too much about contracting the extremely contagious and potentially deadly illness.

At a time when many Tarrant County residents are under orders to stay at home, to slow the spread of coronavirus, Estell is among the thousands of Fort Worth-area workers whose job requires them to continue showing up each day, and to mingle with people in close quarters.

“For the most part, people are just really scared,” Estell said during a recent break at Trinity Metro’s garage, before heading out to his afternoon route along Hemphill Street in south Fort Worth. “I try to solve that, well, not really solve it, but work with it by saying ‘Hello. How are you doing? Thank you. Have a good day.’ Things you would normally do anyway. But those things seem to be really helping.”

United Way assists Fort Worth-area agencies serving people during coronavirus crisis

United Way of Tarrant County is allocating $200,000 in emergency funds to help 11 social agencies that are working with people who are in immediate need during the COVID-19 crisis.

The agency announced in a news release that the $200,000 is from the emergency reserve fund, and the money is going toward helping approximately 120,000 Tarrant County residents impacted by COVID-19.

“The amount of need in our community is unlike anything we’ve ever seen,” said Leah King, president and CEO of United Way of Tarrant County.

“We are so thankful to our generous donors who recognize that so many of our fellow citizens are unable to make ends meet because of the impact of the virus. The outpouring of support is heartwarming in what is a desperate time for so many of our friends and neighbors. As long as we have contributions coming into the Emergency Relief Fund, we will continue to distribute resources broadly across our community,” King said.

DFW Airport may postpone a $3.5 billion expansion, including Terminal F construction

DFW Airport may have to postpone or scale back much of its $3.5 billion capital expansion plan, including construction of a new Terminal F, because of the coronavirus.

The airport, which is owned jointly by Dallas and Fort Worth, expects to lose up to $225 million in revenue from airlines and passengers during the next six months, chief executive officer Sean Donohue told DFW board members Thursday.

Donohue also told the board that his staff is forecasting that it could be 2021 or 2022 before revenue from domestic flights returns to 2019 levels — and international flight revenue likely will take even longer.

American Airlines, which has its world headquarters in Fort Worth and is the dominant carrier at DFW, had pushed strongly for a new Terminal F in response to dramatic increases in both domestic and international flights. But that was before COVID-19 led to a worldwide shutdown in travel, and grounded nearly all of American’s international routes and at least 60% of its domestic flights.

Terminal F had been expected to open as soon as 2025, just south of DFW’s Terminal D.

Donohue said his staff would consult with American Airlines, which pays fees to the airport and must sign off on any long-term debt, before making a final decision about altering the Terminal F timeline.

‘Believe in your team.’ Arlington woman grateful after her recovery from coronavirus.

When she was released Wednesday after a nine-day hospital stay while recovering from the coronavirus, Arlington woman Lusia Garcia was applauded by Medical City Las Colinas employees.

But when Garcia first arrived at the hospital, the second she visited since contracting the disease, she was greeted by pain and fear.

“I will say that it is a horror story,” Garcia 28, said during a taped interview provided by Medical City Las Colinas. “It felt like a nightmare. I’m not trying to get emotional but I felt like I was not going to come back from this.”

Garcia was placed on a ventilator for three days before improving and eventually being discharged, according to a news release from Medical City Las Colinas.

Garcia said her advice to others is to stay positive and have faith in the skill and compassion of the medical staff.

“Believe in your team,” Garcia said.

Coronavirus’ acceleration rate slows in Texas

Texas officials pointed to a slowdown in the number of days it takes for confirmed coronavirus cases to double as evidence that social distancing mandates are working to slow the virus’ spread. However, they cautioned that abiding by those measures is necessary to ensure that continues.

Former state Rep. John Zerwas, who serves on Gov. Greg Abbott’s “Supply Chain Strike Force,” said Wednesday that the number of days it takes for positive cases to double in Texas has gone from about three in mid-March to roughly six.

“And so you’ve seen that number increase two-fold, as a consequence, I believe, of the things that we have been able to accomplish through protecting ourselves,” Zerwas said during a press conference Wednesday from the Texas Capitol.

Officials credited that slowdown to Texans staying at home and abiding by local and state restrictions. Late last month, Abbott issued an executive order that requires Texans to stay home through April. School closures were also extended until early May, and since then Abbott has taken additional measures to limit large gatherings, like temporary closing all state parks and historic sites.

“What that means is that the sacrifices you are making right now to distance yourself from others, to stay at home — they’re paying off. They’re leading to better results,” Abbott said. “And so please just continue the success that you’ve already been providing to our state for the remainder of this month, so we can ensure we continue to slow the spread of the coronavirus.”

The number of cases in Texas continues to rise. As of Wednesday afternoon, DSHS had reported at least 9,353 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Texas. Of those, 1,491 people are hospitalized and 177 have died. More than 96,250 Texans have been tested.

However, it’s unclear how up to date the data is in Texas. The state’s testing capabilities were slow to ramp up and some residents have waited up to a week for test results.

Tarrant County reports 19th coronavirus death, this time a Euless man in his 30s

A Euless man in his 30s is the 19th Tarrant County resident to die from coronavirus-related issues.

The man had underlying medical conditions. He’s the first COVID-19-related death in Euless.

There have been 23 confirmed cases of the virus in Euless and 588 in Tarrant County, including 71 new patients reported Wednesday. Among the total confirmed cases, 57% contracted COVID-19 through community spread, including 44% from an unknown source, and 39% contracted it from travel. Four percent of the transmission types haven’t been determined. Fifty-three patients have recovered.

Dallas County reports 20th coronavirus death, a Rowlett man in his 60s

Dallas County confirmed its 20th coronavirus-related death and 63 new cases Wednesday.

A Rowlett man in his 60s, who had underlying medical conditions, died in an area hospital.

There have been 1,324 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the county.

“The Stay At Home Order, implemented on March 22, 2020, that you have embraced and followed is working to flatten the curve,” Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins said in a news release. “Nothing will distract my team from the mission. We need your help. Stay home, save lives.”

Four more living center employees among 32 new Denton County coronavirus cases

Denton County added 32 new coronavirus cases Wednesday for a total of 398, including 100 recovered patients and seven deaths.

Four new patients — all employees — were reported at the Denton State Supported Living Center. There have been 97 confirmed COVID-19 cases at the DSSLC, including 50 residents.

McKinney woman, 80, is Collin County’s 5th coronavirus-related death

Collin County confirmed an 80-year-old McKinney woman is its fifth coronavirus-related death and the second in McKinney.

The woman had coronavirus and a serious underlying medical condition, but her cause of death was not COVID-19, according to health officials.

The county has also reported COVID-19 deaths in Anna, Frisco and Plano.

The county reported 36 new cases, including 11 in Frisco and nine in McKinney, and has 378 total cases, including 150 recoveries. Twenty-nine patients are currently hospitalized and 450 people are being monitored for symptoms.

Burleson adds 3 new coronavirus cases for total of 17, ranging in age from 14 to 80

Johnson County confirmed three new coronavirus cases in Burleson to bring its total to 30.

The three new COVID-19 cases increase Burleson’s total to 17 patients, including three recoveries. The 17 Burleson patients range between ages 14 and 80. One of Burleson’s patients lives outside of Johnson County or hasn’t yet been added to the county’s total.

The other Johnson County patients include six in unincorporated Johnson County, four in Cleburne and one each in Keene, Venus, Mansfield and Joshua. The lone Mansfield patient has recovered.

Texas SNAP recipients to receive maximum amount of benefits for April and May

SNAP recipients in Texas will be able to receive the maximum allowable amount of benefits for the next two months, Gov. Greg Abbott announced Wednesday.

Texas Health and Human Services will provide more than $168 million in emergency benefits after receiving approval from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to provide the maximum amount based on family size, according to a news release.

That means SNAP recipients can receive the maximum amount allowed for their household — regardless of what they were receiving under normal circumstances. The maximum monthly SNAP allotment is $194 for a household of one, $355 for a household of two and $509 for a household of three, according to Texas Health and Human Services’ website.

Households that already receive the maximum monthly allotment for their household size are not eligible for an increase, according to the USDA’s approval of Texas’ request.

SNAP recipients will see the additional amount for April and May on their Lone Star Card by the 15th of the month. They will not need to take additional action to receive it, according to a news release.

Texans: The next time your phone rings, it could be a scam if you filed for unemployment

As a record number of Texans seek unemployment due to the novel coronavirus, state officials issued a new warning Wednesday.

Watch out for scams.

Texas Workforce Commission officials say people falsely saying they are with the agency may reach out to Texans seeking unemployment benefits. They may try to get credit card numbers and information about bank accounts.

Or they might try to collect a fee for processing unemployment claims.

The commission issued a statement telling any Texan seeking unemployment benefits “to practice caution when providing people with personally identifiable information.”

Anyone who believes they’ve been a victim of identity theft should visit identitytheft.gov to report the crime and develop a recovery plan.

Coronavirus drive-thru testing to open in downtown Fort Worth

A healthcare organization will start offering drive-thru testing for coronavirus in downtown Fort Worth on Friday, a group announced Wednesday.

Fort Worth-based 3D Healthcare will start taking appointments for COVID-19 testing at 914 Lamar St. The group started handing out fliers downtown on Wednesday.

“We’re really just trying to speed up the process because all reports so far have been that people who think they’ve been exposed have to wait a week before getting access (to testing),” Nick Cain, head of operations for 3D Healthcare, said.

The healthcare organization partnered with MedScan, a CDC certified lab out of Houston, and Guardian Visiting Physicians to offer testing. People can call or visit the group’s website to make appointments, most of which can be done the same day, Cain said.

For more information or to make an appointment, visit the group’s website at www.3dhealth-care.com or call at 833-219-7922.

Abbott’s order blocking Texas inmates’ release is unconstitutional, ACLU says in suit

The ACLU of Texas filed a lawsuit Wednesday against Gov. Greg Abbott over his executive order that barred the release of certain people from jail to reduce the spread of coronavirus.

Abbott banned the release of those who cannot pay bail on March 29. People awaiting trial who have been accused or previously convicted of a violent crime that cannot post bail in cash are not able to be released, even if they’re accused of a low-level crime. However, someone facing the same charges or with the same criminal history can be released as long as they are able to post bond with cash.

The ACLU of Texas says that makes the order unconstitutional.

When he announced the order, Abbott said at a news conference that “releasing dangerous criminals makes the state even less safe ... and slows our ability to respond to the disaster caused by COVID-19.”

But the ACLU of Texas says Abbott’s order exceeds his constitutional authority and creates a system that favors the wealthy.

Per the Texas Constitution, judges typically decide who can be released on personal bonds. Abbott’s order contradicts that state law, the ACLU said in the press release, and Abbott does not have that authority even during an emergency.

Are children safe from ‘Zoom-bombing’ while using popular app for distance learning?

The Zoom video-conferencing service has made like its name during the coronavirus pandemic, growing wildly in popularity across the country as businesses and schools search for a way to connect while adhering to stay-at-home orders.

The application is easy to access and and easy to use, and highly susceptible to security breaches that have infiltrated school systems across the country while teachers were attempting to hold online classes.

One area school district using Zoom has acted to help minimize the risk, though others have avoided it all together.

The Keller Independent School District sent its students and their parents strict protocol on how to better use Zoom less than a week after the FBI issued a warning about vulnerabilities that it called “Zoom-bombing.”

“With many school meetings taking place through Zoom, we understand there have been concerns voiced about the safety of using the platform that have come with recent media reports,” the district wrote to families and students. “We want to assure you that KISD is aware of these concerns and takes them seriously.”

The Keller ISD on Monday started requiring a passcode for all Zoom meetings, which were to be sent via invitation. Those joining meetings are required to log into Zoom using their Keller ISD email accounts, which should prevent any outsiders from joining.

Dallas-Fort Worth gyms, trainers try to survive coronavirus by moving workouts online

As fitness-focused small businesses and trainers face financial uncertainty while deemed non-essential businesses by stay-at-home edicts brought on by the coronavirus pandemic, the silver lining is that their members and clients want to remain in shape.

In trying to avoid COVID-19, it would seem people don’t want to gain the COVID 19.

Granted, the silver isn’t glimmering, not with families to feed and employees and bills to pay. But in going to virtual training, gyms and trainers are able to keep money coming in while giving clients something they can use.

“We really wanted to be able to give our members a way to stay plugged in,” said Stephanie Springer, who owns Texas Fitt in Arlington with her husband, Clint. “In keeping our online presence and giving them something to do for free, a lot of our members have really appreciated it.”

Springer said that she has submitted applications for help under the CARES Act that President Trump signed into law March 27. Of the $2.2 trillion of economic stimulus, $376 billion was earmarked for workers and small businesses.

Small businesses can apply for a Payback Protection Program loan from U.S. Small Business Association lender to cover up two months of average payroll costs from 2019, plus an extra 25% of that amount. The loans comes with two-year terms and a 1% fixed interest rate.

The loan, backed by the SBA, can be forgiven in full if borrowers prove that at least 75% of the funds covered payroll. Repayments are deferred for six months.

As coronavirus projections improve, what will it take for Texas to return to normal?

By at least one metric, Texas had a good weekend.

On Friday, the influential coronavirus model by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation was predicting the state would see 6,392 coronavirus deaths by early August. The state’s peak, the model predicted, would happen on May 6, with 161 Texans dying that day and not enough hospital ICU beds and ventilators available to aid the sickest people.

Those numbers had improved dramatically by Tuesday. Projected deaths had fallen by 68%, to 2,025. The resource peak had been moved up to April 19, with 72 deaths on April 20 and plenty of ICU beds and ventilators available.

Catherine Troisi, an infectious disease epidemiologist at UTHealth School of Public Health in Houston, said the modeling offered a reason to be optimistic but with plenty of caution. The model is based on many assumptions — one of them being that stay-at-home guidelines are being properly followed and that they will be followed through August. Decisions to not follow stay-at-home guidelines would greatly alter the improved scenario.

This story was originally published April 9, 2020 at 5:00 AM.