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.

New coronavirus testing sites should open in Fort Worth, Arlington next week

It could be easier to get tested for the novel coronavirus in Tarrant County as soon as next week.

Details are still being worked out, but Tarrant County Judge Glen Whitley said there will be two sites — one in the Fort Worth area and the other in Arlington.

The testing is a partnership between Adobe and the Tarrant County Public Health Department, with the help of the UNT Health Science Center in Fort Worth and UT Southwestern through the Moncrief Cancer Center.

Residents will use the Adobe software to fill out questionnaires.

“It’s still going through the screening process,” Whitley said. “Once they’ve gone through that process, if a test is warranted, that individual will be given an appointment time and a location to go have the test taken.”

People will stay in their cars for the tests.

Fort Worth, Dallas set to applaud coronavirus first responders and healthcare workers

Fort Worth and Dallas will join hands Thursday evening to honor the frontline workers amid the coronavirus crisis.

This ovation will follow in the steps of cities in this country and across the world which have honored the nurses, doctors, first responders and other essential workers battling COVID-19. In New York City, the ovations have been held each evening for weeks.

Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price and Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson will host the citywide ovations at 7 p.m. Thursday.

Price is encouraging residents to step outside at 7 p.m., and for five minutes, applaud, cheer and thank workers who are in the middle of helping others during the pandemic.

Price along with Fire Chief Jim Davis, Police Chief Ed Kraus and City Manager David Cooke will visit Fort Worth hospitals starting at 7 p.m.

The Fort Worth mayor also will be lighting downtown Fort Worth blue to show gratitude for first responders and healthcare workers. Downtown buildings and bridges will be illuminated in blue lights. Residents also are encouraged to turn on their porch lights, and if possible, businesses also are encouraged to illuminate their building in blue lights.

New coronavirus testing site to open at Walgreens in Fort Worth

A new site to test people for coronavirus is expected to open up at a Walgreens in Fort Worth.

The site, announced by state Rep. Lorraine Birabil, D-Dallas, should open in the “next several days.”

The Fort Worth testing site will be at the Walgreens at 8600 Camp Bowie West. Another test site will be at the Walgreens at 2060 S. Buckner Blvd. in Dallas, she said.

Both locations will have 15-minute COVID-19 testing available and each will process as many as 160 free tests per day.

“More details to follow on start date,” Birabil tweeted.

Tarrant County reports 4 more coronavirus deaths, over 1,000 total cases

Tarrant County reported four more coronavirus deaths on Thursday, all men, including two in their 40s.

All four had underlying health conditions, including two residents of Fort Worth, one resident of Mansfield and one resident of rural Tarrant County. Two of the patients were in their 60s.

The county has confirmed 34 COVID-19-related deaths, including 19 in Fort Worth.

The county reported 103 new cases on Thursday, for a total of 1,093 so far, and 168 patient recoveries.

The death in Mansfield was that city’s first, according to the county’s data.

The county has yet to release new case totals as of 12:30 p.m. Thursday.

“These deaths continue to remind us that we are faced with a deadly disease,” Tarrant County Public Health Director Vinny Taneja said in a news release. “As we suffer these losses we also are mindful of how important it is for us to continue our efforts to control the spread of this deadly virus.”

Dallas County adds 7 coronavirus deaths and 80 cases, will require cloth face masks

Dallas County reported seven more coronavirus deaths and 80 new cases on Thursday.

The county also announced it will start requiring visitors to essential businesses, employees of those businesses, and riders of public transportation to wear a cloth or mask to cover their faces beginning Saturday.

The seven deaths include six Dallas residents and one Garland resident, including three residents of Dallas long-term care facilities. Three were in their 80s, two were in their 60s, and two were in their 70s.

There have been a total of 2,066 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 50 deaths in the county.

“We must all limit unnecessary trips. Each trip carries some risk to you, your family, and the public at large,” Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins said in a news release. “To better protect you and our front-line heroes, we are requiring all visitors to essential businesses, essential business employees, and riders of public transportation to wear a cloth covering starting Saturday.”

Jenkins also voiced concern over more traffic on Dallas roads. “That’s a concern,” he said. “If a few of us slack off on making good personal responsibility choices, we not only put public health at risk but are prolonging this for ourselves and everyone.”

Arlington spa stops promoting coronavirus treatment after warning from Texas officials

An Arlington wellness clinic has removed all references to the possible prevention, treatment or cure of the coronavirus on its social media after the Federal Trade Commission and Texas Attorney General’s Office warned the business to stop such promotions.

In response to the warning, Resurgence Medical Spa posted that the business never intended to harm or scam patients in regards to whether its vitamin C intravenous infusions could prevent or cure COVID-19.

“Our primary concern has always been and remains to be the health and wellness of our community,” according to spa’s Facebook post. “Any sort of references we used related to COVID 19 and our IV infusions were focused on overall immune boosting and/or reports we were seeing from the mainstream media as to the positive effects high dose vitamin C was having on COVID patients.”

The business’s post also noted, “As further explanation, we never claimed to prevent or cure COVID 19, we were very careful to use wording like ‘may/could/can help’ or ‘may/could/can prevent.’”

Officials with Resurgence Medical Spa said they removed all such references on April 3.

The state attorney general had sent the clinic a letter on April 3, warning them their claims were a direct violation of the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices and federal consumer protection law.

Collin County reports 11th coronavirus death, the sixth in McKinney

Collin County confirmed its 11th coronavirus-related death and 11 new cases Thursday.

The new case was the sixth COVID-19-related death in McKinney.

The county has reported 505 pandemic patients, including 304 recoveries amid the 11 deaths. Seventeen active patients are hospitalized.

Of the total confirmed cases, 108 are in their 50s, 106 are in their 40s, 97 are in their 30s, 78 are in their 60s, and 65 are in their 20s. Twelve patients are between the ages 10 and 19, seven patients are age 9 or younger, and 23 are 70 or older.

‘Everyone has a stake’ in protecting homeless Fort Worth residents from coronavirus

Gardner Russell sat on a folding chair outside the Fort Worth Convention Center, his black and white dog, Tara, pulling on the leash he held. Tara sniffed a man and woman sitting on the curb nearby, who said hello to her, before trotting back to her owner.

On Tuesday afternoon, Russell was one of dozens of people waiting for the convention center in downtown Fort Worth to open at 4 p.m. On Monday night, 421 men, women and children ate dinner and slept at the overflow shelter.

The temporary shelter opened last month primarily to serve people who had to leave other shelters in order to maintain social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In mid-March, city, hospital and homeless shelter leaders realized in order to keep people 6 feet apart in shelters, they needed to move hundreds of people. Those without homes need daily health checks and access to clean, sterile environments to prevent the spread of coronavirus not just in the shelters, but in the community as a whole.

Safety measures at the convention center and shelters not only keep those who are homeless safe, but also help protect other members of the public. Preventing the spread of coronavirus among the homeless keeps the health system from being overwhelmed, said Steve Berg, the vice president for programs and policy at the National Alliance to End Homelessness.

“It’s all about keeping the health system from getting overwhelmed, so that the health system can deal with the people who they need to deal with,” Berg said. “That is the way that everyone has a stake in everyone in the community being safe from the disease.”

Parker County reports 17 coronavirus cases, including first patient in Aledo

Parker County has confirmed 17 coronavirus cases, including seven recoveries.

Among the active COVID-19 patients, three are in Azle, two are in Weatherford, two are in Willow Park, and one each are in Aledo, Reno, and Poolville.

Among the 17 total confirmed COVID-19 cases, six patients have been in their 60s, four in their 30s, two in their 50s and 40s, and one each in their 70s, 80s and 20s.

All 10 active patients are in home isolation. The county has reported 195 negative tests and 17 tests are pending results.

Johnson County adds coronavirus cases in Cleburne, Alvarado and Mansfield

Johnson County added four new coronavirus cases Thursday for a total of 44.

The new cases include one each in Cleburne, Alvarado, Mansfield and unincorporated Johnson County.

The county has COVID-19 cases in seven cities, plus rural areas, including 20 in Burleson, seven in Cleburne, two each in Mansfield and Alvarado, and one each in Keene, Venus and Joshua. Ten patients are in unincorporated areas. Burleson has an additional pandemic patient who resides in Tarrant County and is not part of Johnson’s total.

The county’s total case number includes recoveries, including at least four in Cleburne, three in Burleson, and one in Mansfield. The county is not providing updated recovery totals.

Wise County reports first coronavirus-related death

Wise County reported its first coronavirus death late Wednesday night.

There have been seven confirmed COVID-19 cases in the county, including one recovery.

There were no details released on the death.

There have been 655 tests given, including 535 negative results and 106 pending, and seven inconclusive.

“Our deepest sympathy goes out to the family of this individual,” Wise County Emergency Management Coordinator Cody Powell said in a release. “We are sorry for your loss and pray for healing during this difficult time.”

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).

Helping feed kids amid coronavirus pandemic part of Texas Rangers’ Kyle Gibson’s duty

After only two conference calls and a few gaggles with reporters during an abbreviated spring training, this much has become abundantly clear about new Texas Rangers right-hander Kyle Gibson:

He gets it.

Gibson is a very big part of Big League Impact, a charity launched by St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright and country music icon Garth Brooks to help provide Americans with basic needs.

Big League Impact, along with Brooks’ Teammates for Kids Foundation and MLB, is helping to provide more than 4 million meals to prevent childhood hunger while schools are closed during the coronavirus pandemic.

More money now available for Fort Worth small businesses hit by coronavirus

More than $1.7 million could be available for Fort Worth small businesses looking for relief during the novel coronavirus outbreak from a partnership between PeopleFund and the city.

The city announced the Business Resiliency Microloan Program on Wednesday, with a commitment of at least $850,000 for small businesses hurt by the economic downturn. The number could go up if demand for the small loans is high.

Robert Sturns, Fort Worth’s economic development director, said the small-scale loans are primarily for companies with 25 or fewer employees and minority- or women-owned businesses that have not been successful in receiving federal or state relief funding.

The loans can be used to pay debts, payroll or cover other bills. At least 1,400 small businesses responded to a city survey saying their biggest concern is revenue to support payroll. Applications are available through PeopleFund’s website.

Judge will issue order allowing Texans to vote by mail to prevent coronavirus’ spread

A state district judge said Wednesday he will issue a temporary injunction allowing Texans to vote-by-mail to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Judge Tim Sulak, who presides overs the 353rd Civil District Court in Travis County, heard arguments via Zoom Wednesday in the Texas Democratic Party’s lawsuit. It argues a provision of Texas Election Code allows for eligible voters who are fearful of contracting COVID-19 by voting in-person to cast their ballots by mail.

In order to qualify to vote-by-mail under state law, Texans must submit an application and be either 65 years or older, disabled, out of the county on election day and during early voting, or be eligible to vote but confined in jail.

Attorneys representing the plaintiffs argued that Texans following stay-at-home orders and exercising social distancing fall under the Texas Elections Code’s definition of a disability, which is “a sickness or physical condition that prevents the voter from appearing at the polling place on election day without a likelihood of needing personal assistance or of injuring the voter’s health.”

Meanwhile, lawyers from the Texas Attorney General’s Office argued that “a reasonable fear of contracting the coronavirus” does not meet the definition of a “sickness” outlined in Texas Elections Code.

However, Sulak pointed to the vagueness of the Texas Elections Code’s language and the need for clarity and uniformity among Texas’ 254 counties as a reason for granting a temporary injunction ahead of the July primary runoff elections. Sulak’s decision is likely to be appealed by the state, but it was a win for the Texas Democratic Party, which has filed multiple lawsuits in an effort to expand vote-by-mail and clashed with the Republican Party of Texas over the issue.

Texas Rangers part of antibody study that may show true spread of coronavirus in U.S.

The Texas Rangers are one of the 27 Major League Baseball teams participating in a comprehensive study that could help researchers learn how widespread the coronavirus pandemic is in the United States, according to a baseball source.

The epidemiological study — led by the Sports Medicine Research and Testing Laboratory, Stanford University and the University of Southern California — checks participants’ blood samples for antibodies that have formed against COVID-19.

Participating does not hasten MLB’s return to the field, but testing 10,000 employees and their family members in several metropolitan areas will help researchers learn the prevalence of COVID-19 and could help government officials determine when to lift stay-at-home orders.

“You need to know how many people have been infected up to now,” Stanford professor Dr. Jay Bhattacharya told CBS Sports. “The only way to get that is through the antibody testing. That’s why this is so important. This will help us forecast where the outbreak is headed and how we can head toward opening the economy back up. Without this, you’re in the dark.”

Coronavirus is killing meatpackers, putting nation’s supply of beef and pork at risk

One week before Saul Sanchez died, he warned his boss at a JBS USA meatpacking factory in Greeley, Colorado, that he had tested positive for COVID-19, according to his daughter.

His daughter, Beatriz Rangel, said the company did nothing to protect its workers. At least two others have died.

Sanchez, 78, had worked there 30 years.

“They were like his second family,” Rangel said Tuesday during a call hosted by the League of United Latin American Citizens.

“I want to know why they are not being protected if they are essential workers. I’m speaking today in my father’s honor and for all the other workers at these factories that are too scared to talk.”

At least 12 meatpacking plants in Iowa, Colorado and South Dakota have closed in response to COVID-19, putting the nation’s supply of pork and beef in jeopardy.

“If you thought fighting for toilet paper and paper towels was a big deal, wait until you have the last pork chop,” said Domingo Garcia, the national president of the League of United Latin American Citizens.

Will cutting Texas oil production in the coronavirus era save the industry or kill it?

A proposal by state officials to cut oil production in Texas faces a backlash from some in the industry who say they might have to close up shop.

But other producers say restrictions are needed to stabilize oil prices, which have fallen to historically low levels in large part because the coronavirus crisis has shut down the economy and led to an astonishing drop in demand for fuel.

Among those in favor of cutting production was Matt Gallagher, president and chief executive officer of Parsley Energy Inc. of Austin.

“Doing so will not only correct, prevent, and lessen the ongoing waste of Texas oil but also will hasten the stability of the Texas oil and gas industry for the benefit of the thousands of employees, contractors, and service companies who have built Texas to become the preeminent oil-producing State in the country,” Gallagher said in written testimony submitted to the commission.

The commission heard more than 10 hours of testimony this week, but hasn’t yet taken action on the issue.

Among those opposed to government intervention in oil production was state Rep. Charlie Geren, R-Fort Worth. He said the state was already expecting significant reductions in revenue from oil and gas proceeds to fund government services, and that mandating a cut in production would make the situation even worse.

“We cannot solve a demand problem with a government forced supply solution,” Geren said in written testimony. “This industry has proven itself to be resilient and will do so again once the effects of COVID-19 subside.”

Goodwill Fort Worth offers free virtual job training and placement

As North Texans face unemployment and furlough in record numbers during the COVID-19 pandemic, Goodwill Industries of Fort Worth Inc. is offering a free, virtual Job Resource Center providing job training and placement services, as well as digital skills training through the Digital Career Accelerator to the public, according to a news release.

“We’re proud to be able to continue to fulfill our mission of providing jobs and job training despite our retail locations being closed during this time,” said David Cox, president and CEO, in the release. “By transitioning to online workforce development services, we’ve already been able to serve more than 1,400 individuals virtually and stand ready to assist those facing unemployment over the weeks and months to come.”

The virtual Job Resource Center offers job search techniques, job leads and placements, as well as job readiness skills training including resume writing, interview skills building, dressing techniques and more. The virtual Digital Career Accelerator offers free digital skills classes, in both English and Spanish, including basic computer skills, Windows OS, Internet basics, email, and Microsoft Word, PowerPoint and Excel certifications.

To register for these free services, interested individuals should visit GoodwillFortWorth.org/JRC or GoodwillFortWorth.org/DCA and complete the intake form to register. A member of Goodwill Fort Worth’s Workforce Development team will then reach out to get the job search or skills training process started.

111 Texas mayors call for direct federal aid for more than just state’s 6 largest cities

More than 100 Texas mayors sent a letter to Texas’ Congressional delegation Wednesday requesting that all cities, regardless of their population size, receive direct funding from the federal government to cover costs related to the ongoing coronavirus crisis.

Currently, cities with populations less than 500,000 are ineligible to receive funds directly under the $150 billion Coronavirus Relief Fund included in the “CARES Act” passed last month.

Arlington is Texas’ seventh-largest city, but with a population of roughly 398,000 people based on the Census estimates from 2018, it would not meet the threshold for direct funding.

“For a city our size to be left out, it’s pretty ridiculous,” said Rep. Ron Wright, an Arlington Republican, in a Wednesday phone interview.

“This is what happens when you move something that large that quickly,” Wright said of the more than $2 trillion CARES Act, which was shuffled quickly through Congress and passed unanimously. “It’s arbitrary, it’s unfair, it’s unreasonable,” he said of the 500,000 limit.

The CARES Act set aside $150 billion to be divided among states and allocated to “units of local governments,” with Texas receiving $11.2 billion. The big cities — Houston, San Antonio, Dallas, Austin, Fort Worth and El Paso — can apply to the federal government for money directly, while smaller cities have to ask for money from the governor.

Here’s an updated list of what outdoor spaces are closed in Fort Worth due to coronavirus

While all Fort Worth parks remain open, some outdoor spaces in the city are closed due to the coronavirus.

The city provided an updated list on what was open or closed to the public as of Wednesday. The city temporarily shut down parks to vehicle traffic over Easter weekend.

Parks are open, but certain playgrounds are closed. The Dream Park in Trinity Park and Patricia LeBlanc Park Playground were closed. The city recommends people avoid all 203 of Fort Worth’s playgrounds as well as picnic tables, water fountains and restrooms.

McLeland Tennis Center remained open for outdoor play only. Golf courses, disc golf courses and outdoor tennis courts also are open to the public.

Basketball and volleyball courts are closed. Rims and nets were removed from full-sized courts on March 30, and single-goal courts will be taken down as needed, the city said.

All community centers were shut down. Fort Woof on Beach Street and two ZBonz dog parks on Camp Bowie West Boulevard and Lackland Road were also shut down. Other communal outdoor spaces that remain closed due to COVID-19 are:

• The Fort Worth Botanic Garden
• Fort Worth Nature Center and Refuge
• Log Cabin Village
• Haws Athletic Center
• The Bradley Center

While public parks remain open, city officials encourage people to stay 6 feet apart and visit for brief time periods.

On April 7, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the Texas Historical Commission closed all state parks and historic sites.

Asian-bashing and a family stabbed: ‘I’ve never seen [Asian-Americans] this upset’

Asian-Americans are among the doctors and nurses saving our lives.

Yet they also endure the worst abuse.

Texas is the No. 3 state for hate incidents against Asian-Americans, according to recent numbers from a California-based advocacy council.

A recent attack on a Burmese family in Midland is being investigated as a hate crime.

And the president of the Texas Medical Association has issued a strong letter warning against discrimination toward Asian and Asian-American professionals.

“Fear, misinformation, and confusion are widespread,” Dr. David Fleeger of Austin wrote, calling for using “science and reason to guide us.”

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.

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.

This story was originally published April 16, 2020 at 5:00 AM.