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.

Tarrant County reports 30th coronavirius death, 17th in Fort Worth

Tarrant County health officials confirmed their county’s 30th coronavirus-related death on Wednesday.

The woman was in her 70s and a resident of Fort Worth and had underlying health conditions.

There have been 17 COVID-19-related deaths in Fort Worth. The county has reported 990 total cases, including 61 new patients on Wednesday and 157 recovered patients.

“Every death from the COVID-19 is sad for us to report,” Tarrant County Public Health Director Vinny Taneja said in a news release. “In our sadness, we also want to remind everyone to not be complacent, continue to follow the guidelines and we will get through this crisis.”

There have been 373 confirmed cases in Fort Worth (including 64 recoveries) and 174 (with 22 recoveries) in Arlington, including three deaths.

Dallas County’s 43rd coronavirus death is woman with no underlying health issues

Dallas County reported 109 new coronavirus cases and its 43rd pandemic-related death on Wednesday.

The latest death was a Garland woman in her 80s with no underlying health conditions. She had been hospitalized.

The county has confirmed 1,986 COVID-19 patients, which includes recoveries and 42 deaths. The county is not reporting how many patients have recovered. More than 1,000 of the cases are in the city of Dallas.

A 10th Dallas police officer tested positive for the coronavirus, according to the Dallas Morning News. As of Tuesday, at least 36 jail inmates had contracted the virus.

Fort Worth-area man died after cruise, didn’t know coronavirus was on board, suit says

A Crowley woman sued Princess Cruise Lines this week, alleging the company knowingly exposed her and her husband to the novel coronavirus in February, which resulted in his death.

At least seven people who have sailed on a Princess Cruise Lines ship have died of COVID-19, according to the lawsuit, filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.

In a statement emailed to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, the cruise line said: “Princess Cruises has been sensitive to the difficulties the COVID-19 outbreak has caused to our guests and crew. Our response throughout this process has focused on the well-being of our guests and crew within the parameters dictated to us by the government agencies involved and the evolving medical understanding of this new illness. We do not comment on any pending litigation.”

Susan Dorety and her husband Michael, a retired firefighter, boarded the Grand Princess cruise ship on Feb. 21 in San Francisco to celebrate their 40th anniversary.

Three days earlier, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a statement that said the rate of positive cases on board the Diamond Princess highlighted the ongoing risk of infection on the ship.

Despite the CDC warning, the cruise line still allowed passengers to board the Grand Princess, according to the lawsuit. At least two passengers who had COVID-19 symptoms just disembarked the ship while more than 60 others were allowed to remain on board after they had been exposed to the virus, the suit says. The ship’s crew knew passengers had become ill before the couple boarded, according to the lawsuit.

The Grand Princess was carrying 2,421 passengers and 1,113 crew members when it set sail.

Four days after the Doretys boarded, Princess Cruise Lines emailed the previous passengers who were no longer on the ship and told them they had been exposed to the virus. But there was no warning to the new passengers, according to the lawsuit.

In addition, when a crew member with COVID-19 symptoms left the Grand Princess in Hawaii, there still was no alert to passengers. Dorety said she and her husband would have disembarked in Hawaii had they known about the risks and would have never boarded in the first place had they known there was a potential outbreak onboard.

Don’t fall for latest Social Security scam amid coronavirus, inspector general warns

The Inspector General’s office is warning people not to fall for a scam that threatens to shut down a person’s Social Security benefits due to coronavirus.

People have reported they are getting fraudulent letters threatening a suspension of their benefits because of COVID-19-related office closures, the Inspector General of Social Security, Gail Ennis, said in a press release. The Social Security Administration will not suspend or discontinue benefits because their offices are closed.

The fake letters tell Social Security beneficiaries to call a phone number to ensure they get their benefits. The scammers then try to mislead callers into giving out personal information or payments via retail gift cards, wire transfers, internet currency or by mailing cash.

If you receive a letter, text, call or email that you believe to be suspicious, about an alleged problem with your Social Security number, account or payments, hang up or do not respond, the Inspector General’s office said. People can report Social Security scams using a dedicated online form.

Coronavirus ruined their Fort Worth grand openings. But they ‘charged ahead’ and saved jobs

Unused tables and bar stools sit empty at Wild Acre Brewing’s new pub on Camp Bowie.

Owner John Pritchett won’t dwell on what the grand opening for the satellite location of one of Fort Worth’s largest craft breweries might have looked like had coronavirus not slammed the door shut on many small businesses. Instead of opening with fanfare in the first week of April, Pritchett opened the brewery and restaurant at 6479 Camp Bowie Blvd. quietly March 21, almost two weeks earlier than planned.

“That’s spilled milk now and you can’t really worry about it,” Pritchett said. “We’re going to make the best of this situation.”

Mandates designed to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus have shuttered many businesses and those still open have taken a major hit from stay-at-home orders. But some locally owned small businesses, particularly restaurants, are moving ahead with plans to expand or open in Fort Worth.

Another restaurateur “charging ahead” is Bill Woodrich, who said he had no choice but to open a new joint, Rufus Bar and Grill, in Cityview Centre. Woodrich had run Billy’s Oak Acres BBQ off Camp Bowie, but decided to relocate and re-brand with plans for a major grand opening this month, complete with Rufus Racing Team Jeeps.

The car show-style grand opening may not happen for a few months, but Rufus Bar and Grill opened Saturday with regular menu items and family meals. Woodrich said he never considered not opening and letting go his longtime kitchen staff.

“I’ve been scared to death,” Woodrich said. “I never dreamed I would have to open a restaurant in the middle of a pandemic.”

Rapid coronavirus testing now available at JPS Hospital in Fort Worth

John Peter Smith Hospital is now processing its COVID-19 tests, which will help reduce the time for results from several days to about an hour, the hospital said on Wednesday.

“This is a tremendous win for our community,” Robert Earley, president and CEO of JPS Health Network, said in a news release. “Our patients need this, and the cooperation that has made this possible is civic duty at its best. I think everyone realizes what’s at stake and is eager to be a part of the solution.”

Rapid testing capabilities at JPS now include the Cepheid COVID-19 RT-PCR test, the Abbott ID NOW COVID-19-Molecular test, and the OrientGene Biotech AB test.

The hospital has also partnered with Texas Health Resources and Cook Children’s Medical Center to combine manpower and resources, a news release said.

Denton County adds 26 new coronavirus cases, including another at living center

Denton County reported 26 new coronavirus cases Wednesday to bring its total to 547, including 207 recoveries and 14 deaths.

One of the new cases is a resident of the Denton State Supported Living Center, which now has reported 101 total COVID-19 cases, including 54 residents and 47 employees.

The center serves people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Also, there are 17 residents of long-term care facilities across the county who have tested positive.

Of the total confirmed pandemic cases, 112 patients are in their 50s, 108 are in their 40s, 101 are in their 60s, 85 are in their 30s, and 71 are in their 20s. There have have been 42 patients in their 70s and 16 patients 80 or older. Twelve patients have been 19 or younger.

Day after two-week low, Collin County reports 25 new coronavirus cases

Collin County reported 25 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday for a total of 494, including 10 deaths and 284 recoveries.

The 25 new cases come a day after the county reported a two-week daily low of eight cases on Tuesday.

Among the new cases, seven are in McKinney, seven in Plano, four in Allen and two in Dallas.

There are 200 active cases in the county, including 15 hospitalized patients and 185 in home isolation. Almost 2,900 negative tests have been recorded, and 854 people are being monitored by health officials.

Wise County has 7 coronavirus cases in 5 zip codes, including 2 each near Decatur, Chico

Wise County has confirmed seven coronavirus cases, including two new positive tests as of Tuesday evening.

The seven total COVID-19 cases includes one patient recovery.

The county has tested 610 people, including 475 negative, 120 pending and eight inconclusive. There have been confirmed patients in five zip codes in the county, including two in 76234 (which includes Decatur) and two in 76431 (which includes Chico). Other cases are confirmed in 76073 (Paradise area), 76078 (Rhome area) and 76426 (Bridgeport area).

Health officials have confirmed other cases but haven’t verified residency of those patients so they are not yet included in the report.

When could businesses open in Tarrant County? Here’s an idea, if coronavirus flattens out

Stay-at-home restrictions appear to be “bending the curve” of novel coronavirus cases in Tarrant County — and County Judge Glen Whitley said there’s a chance some restrictions could be loosened early next month.

“These actions our county have taken have really impacted the way this outbreak has emerged in Tarrant County,” Public Health Director Vinny Taneja told commissioners Tuesday during their weekly meeting. “There is clear evidence we are doing the right things.”

He noted that cases are doubling about every four days and new projections from Covid Act Now show the peak of coronavirus cases might not hit here until June.

“Keep staying at home,” Taneja said. “We’re doing the right things in Tarrant County and we need to keep the course.”

Whitley said he doesn’t believe restrictions will be loosened this month, but said there’s a possibility that they could in May.

He said he’s been talking about how “we are going to come out of this” with area county judges, hospital officials and the North Texas Council of Governments.

“We need to be consistent,” Whitley said. “We really need to listen to the health care providers, the physicians, epidemiologists, the same folks who told us what we needed to do in order to bend the curve and to potentially get ahead of this.”

Lockheed employee hospitalized with coronavirus worries it will continue to spread

Anthony Melchor has to take long breaks between sentences to catch his breath. When he speaks, his words are interrupted as he inhales deeply.

“It feels kind of like a burning, itching in my throat,” he said on Tuesday. “You think you’re breathing fine but you know you’re not.”

Melchor is one of eight Lockheed Martin employees who have been diagnosed with COVID-19. He’s been hospitalized since Saturday and doesn’t know when he’ll make it home.

“My oxygen levels aren’t high enough, so they’re waiting for that,” he said.

Late Monday night, Melchor said he couldn’t sleep, so he started a Facebook Live to update his friends and family on his condition. The video opens with him coughing. He’s on a hospital bed, a sheet covering his chest and oxygen tubes coming out of his nose.

“Didn’t want to start off the video like that,” he says jokingly, when he caught his breath. “I just wanted to check in with everybody.”

Melchor, who applies coatings to aircraft, started noticing symptoms on April 4, the same day another Lockheed employee, Claude Daniels, reported he was experiencing COVID-19 symptoms. Daniels later died due to the virus, colleagues have said.

Melchor said he was surprised he became infected, and began to worry when he woke up Saturday with a migraine.

FWISD board votes to buy thousands of computers, hot spots for students learning at home

The Fort Worth school board voted unanimously Tuesday night to buy thousands of computers in an emergency purchase for elementary school students who need devices and internet access for at-home learning.

The district plans to purchase 3,160 Chromebooks for nearly $1.2 million and spend another $1.3 million on 6,000 hot spots with 3G mobile plans and access to the district’s learning network.

Texas schools are closed until at least May 4 because of the coronavirus pandemic.

“Access to a device is critical for support of the district’s Learning at Home initiative during the mandated state and county COVID-19 school closure,” FWISD Chief Academy officer Jerry Moore said in a statement.

The devices will be transitioned to the 1-to-1 device implementation for fifth-graders once school reopens, the district said.

Some of the $2.5 million expenditure will be offset by private individuals and community organizations.

Four more coronavirus deaths in Fort Worth raise Tarrant County to 29 total; 929 cases

Tarrant County confirmed four more coronavirus deaths on Tuesday, all residents of Fort Worth.

All four patients had underlying health conditions, including a man in his 70s, two men in their 80s and a woman in her 80s. The county has confirmed a total of 29 COVID-19-related deaths so far, including 16 in Fort Worth.

The county added 53 new pandemic cases Tuesday for a total of 929 confirmed cases in Tarrant County, including 103 recoveries.

Almost 60% of the COVID-19-related deaths (17) in the county have been patients 65 or older, despite that age group making up about 20% of the total cases in the county. Nine deaths have been patients between 45 and 64, and three deaths were patients between 25 and 44.

Among the 25 deaths reported through Monday, nine were white, seven were black, seven were Hispanic and two were Asian.

“We are saddened by every death that occurs because of this virus,” Tarrant County Public Health Director Vinny Taneja said in a news release. “Our best hope to save lives in the future is to persevere; keep following the guidelines, and we will emerge stronger than before.”

Dallas County confirms single-day high of 10 coronavirus deaths, including man in his 30s

Dallas County reported 10 more coronavirus deaths on Tuesday, a single-day high.

There have been 42 COVID-19-related deaths in the county and 1,877 confirmed cases as of Tuesday, an increase of 89 cases from Monday.

Five of the 10 patients whose deaths were announced Tuesday were residents of long-term care facilities in Dallas.

A Garland man in his 30s was among the 10 deaths. He had been in critical condition at an area hospital. Three of the patients were in their 80s, three were in their 50s, and one each in their 60s, 70s and 90s. The deceased also included residents of Mesquite and DeSoto.

Most of the patients were hospitalized. The DeSoto man, in his 80s, was found dead at his home, county officials said.

“My heart goes out to their families and all who are suffering during this pandemic,” Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins said in a news release. “Evidence continues to mount that the aggressive move to shelter in place on March 22 is flattening the curve in Dallas County and North Texas. We are in the middle of this fight and we must not waver from the exercise of sound personal decision-making and smart physical distancing.”

Denton County confirms 14th coronavirus death, 14 new cases for total of 521

A male resident of the Denton Rehabilitation Center who had been hospitalized is the 14th coronavirus-related death in Denton County.

The man was older than 80, according to health officials.

The county confirmed 14 new COVID-19 cases for a total of 521, including 189 recoveries and 14 deaths. There were no new cases reported among residents or staff at the Denton State Supported Living Center, which serves people with intellectual and developmental disabilities of all ages.

Fifty-three residents and 47 employees of the DSSLC have been infected during the pandemic.

There are also 17 residents of long-term care facilities across the county who have tested positive.

Among the total cases, 91 are residents of Denton (not including the 53 residents of the DSSLC), 54 are residents of Carrollton, 50 live in unincorporated Denton County, 39 live in Little Elm, 38 live in Frisco, 37 live in Lewisville, and 34 live in The Colony.

Tarrant Churches Together to host Interfaith Day of Prayer

Tarrant Churches Together is bringing several key faith-based leaders from around the world for an Interfaith Day of Prayer, according to a news release. The group is asking the community and world to join in for a time of prayer, meditation, or silence at noon on Sunday, April 19.

“Our Interfaith Day of Prayer event is to inspire others to keep faith and hope alive in the midst of the health pandemic crisis. With your prayers we can successfully raise the awareness about how to mitigate the effects of COVID-19,” said Rhonda Branch Yearby, executive director of TCT. “We are honored to serve our communities of faith in prayer to unite us all and offer hope to the world.”

For more information, please visit tarranttogether.org, or call or email Rhonda Branch Yearby at 817-888-6388, rhondaby@tarranttogether.org.

Tarrant Churches Together, founded in the early 1950s, is an inter-church nonprofit organization dedicated to connecting congregations and the community to affect and address unmet needs in Tarrant County, the release says.

GOP lawmakers call on Abbott to loosen restrictions, restart economy amid coronavirus

Hardline conservative lawmakers are calling on Gov. Greg Abbott to scale back statewide restrictions amid the novel coronavirus’ spread in an effort to restart economic activity.

Members of the Texas House Freedom Caucus sent a letter Tuesday to Abbott, who is also a Republican, requesting he loosen his executive order “to the greatest extent possible while giving local jurisdictions the flexibility to respond to local conditions.”

On March 31, Abbott issued an executive order requiring Texans to stay home through April unless participating in activities deemed “essential” by the state.

Of the nine Republican members who signed the letter, four are Tarrant County-area lawmakers, including Reps. Matt Krause of Fort Worth, Tony Tinderholt of Arlington, Bill Zedler of Arlington and Mike Lang of Granbury. The caucus’ letter says it’s up to elected officials to ensure freedoms are protected, while “it is ultimately the individual Texan’s responsibility” to ensure they keep themselves and others safe by wearing masks, cleaning surfaces and abiding by social distancing guidelines.

“Texas can gradually begin to ramp up, while those with underlying conditions continue to shelter-in-place until the need no longer exists. Regardless, it is time to give more businesses the same opportunities to open for business while mitigating risks,” the letter reads.

Collin County reports 8 new coronavirus cases, lowest daily number in two weeks

Collin County reported just eight new coronavirus cases on Tuesday, its fewest single-day total in more than two weeks.

The county confirmed six new cases on March 29 but had not reported fewer than 12 new cases in a day since. The case numbers spiked with 37 on April 7.

The county has had 477 confirmed cases, including 10 deaths and 277 recoveries. Of the current 190 patients, 21 are hospitalized and 169 remain in home isolation.

Almost 2,600 people have tested negative for COVID-19 in the county and 812 people are being monitored by health officials.

Parker County reports 14 coronavirus cases through Monday, with 7 recoveries

Parker County has confirmed 14 coronavirus cases, including seven recoveries, through Monday.

All 14 pandemic cases were contracted through community spread.

Weatherford has reported five cases, including three recoveries, and Azle has reported three cases and one recovery. Single cases in Springtown, Peaster and Lipan have been reported as recovered.

The seven active cases include two each in Weatherford, Azle and Willow Park, and one in Reno. All active cases are in home isolation and include four patients in their 60s, one in her 50s and two in their 30s.

The county has reported no COVID-19-related deaths.

Johnson County reports four more rural coronavirus patients, 10 total

Johnson County confirmed four more coronavirus cases in unincorporated parts of the county on Tuesday for a total of 39.

Burleson has confirmed 21 cases, including three patients who have recovered. The age range in active Burleson cases is between 14 and 80. One of the Burleson patients lives in Tarrant County and is not counted in the Johnson County total.

There have been 10 COVID-19 patients in unincorporated Johnson County, five in Cleburne and one each in Keene, Venus, Joshua and Mansfield. The Mansfield patient recovered last week.

QB Dak Prescott issues statement, Dallas Cowboys address alleged coronavirus violation

It is still unknown if Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott will participate in the team’s virtual off season program, which begins next Monday.

He remains at an impasse with the Cowboys regarding a long-term contract extension and he has yet to sign the exclusive franchise tag. Per reports, he plans to skip the off season program, as expected.

But what is certain is that Prescott won’t be hosting any more parties at his residence in alleged violation of state’s social distancing rules and stay at home orders during the current COVID-19 pandemic.

While the team can’t force Prescott to be part of the voluntary off season meetings, vice president Stephen Jones said they have spoken to him regarding a party at his home Prosper last Friday that reportedly had over 30 people present, including running back Ezekiel Elliott.

“We’ve certainly communicated with Dak and Zeke,” Jones said on 105.3 The Fan Tuesday. “I think they’re certainly aware now of how sensitive these situations are and I don’t think you’ll be seeing that anymore. They are certainly guys we have the utmost respect for. I certainly know they understand the sensitivity of the situation we’re in, it’s certainly very serious and something we know they understand.”

A source close to Prescott disputed the initial report that more than 30 people were at Prescott’s home, saying no more than 10 people were present.

Florida says live sports are essential. Does Tarrant County agree with that?

The PGA Tour plans to play the Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial Country Club in June. MLB wants to play baseball games at some point, including at the Texas Rangers’ new ballpark in Arlington.

When asked if Tarrant County viewed live sports such as the PGA Tour’s stop at Colonial and Texas Rangers baseball games as “essential business,” County Judge Glen Whitley said: “I don’t see how we could possibly deem it essential.

“Now we may be able to get back to some degree of participation, but that’s a discussion [still to be had]. ... I think we’ve got to go a long way before we want the crowds we see at Colonial, the crowds we see at the ballpark.”

Whether live sports should be deemed “essential” has become a talking point since Florida determined that it is an essential business for the state’s economy. The decision came down this week as Florida became the first state that paved the way for WWE to air live TV broadcasts of professional wrestling matches from the Orlando area.

PGA Tour reportedly plans to restart at Colonial in June. But would fans be there?

The Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial Country Club is expected to remain on the PGA Tour’s schedule ... for June.

According to a report by Golf Digest, the PGA Tour will announce an updated schedule this week with plans to restart the season at Colonial on June 11-14. A source close to the tournament acknowledged late Tuesday that a date change is likely.

The Colonial has been scheduled to be played next month over Memorial Day weekend (May 21-24), as the PGA Tour’s first event back amid the coronavirus pandemic. But, as Tarrant County Judge Glen Whitley said on Tuesday, that date was “really going to push it.”

Golf Digest said no fans were expected to be allowed to attend this year’s Colonial, although a source said they “didn’t know” whether that would be the case.

‘I’ll do what I can to help.’ Trump names Mark Cuban, Jerry Jones as consultants

President Donald Trump will seek the advice of two prominent Dallas businessmen to help claw the country out of the coronavirus economic predicament.

Trump included Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban and Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones among a long list of consultants from the sports and business worlds during a Tuesday evening press conference.

“We have to get our sports back. I’m tired of watching baseball games that are 14 years old,” Trump said jokingly, referring to many networks resorting to playing “classic” games to fill air time without live sports to broadcast.

Cuban said he was given a heads up about an hour before the announcement.

“I’ll do what I can to help,” Cuban said via email.

How Mansfield schools will soon be helping area health-care workers fight coronavirus

The phone calls kept coming to the Mansfield Independent School District four weeks ago even though everyone knew its schools were closed indefinitely.

Area health-care workers, hospitals and first-responders were seeking medical equipment, and knew items that could help in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic were sitting unused in nurse’s offices throughout the MISD campuses.

Coincidentally, district officials and their medical team had been considering if donating taxpayer-bought supplies and personal protective equipment was possible.

It is, and on Tuesday morning the Mansfield school board approved the donations of needed supplies.

“We had some of our local health-care facilities and individuals reach out to us when they were having so much difficulty getting equipment, PPE specifically,” said Cathy Marsh, MISD’s Director of Health Services. “I pitched to my boss, David Wright, ‘Is this something we could do?’ And we started moving forward from there.”

The district needs to make only a few decisions on logistics before beginning to distribute items where they are needed most. Marsh said that Mansfield, Arlington and Grand Prairie — the three primary cities served by MISD schools — will likely be highest on the priority list.

This story was originally published April 15, 2020 at 6:20 PM with the headline "Coronavirus live updates April 15: Here’s what to know in the Dallas-Fort Worth area."