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.

Companies are hiring hundreds to work at home in Fort Worth, and not just temporarily

The coronavirus crisis has elevated the stay-at-home job — once a domain of high-pressure sales calls, and envelope-stuffing scams — to a more prestigious place.

Google hangouts and Zoom encounters with co-workers are now a common part of American workplace culture.

And, although for many people working from home is a temporary arrangement, others may be drawn to the idea of working from home permanently. For those workers with a home office, a growing number of full-time job opportunities is becoming available.

“We tend to see more efficiency and higher retention from our work-at-home population than we do from our brick and mortar, stand-alone facilities,” Dave Palmer, president of Singapore-based Everise, said in a phone interview.

Everise aims to hire at least 300 people from the Fort Worth area in the coming weeks, Palmer said. The jobs are 100% home-based, and involve fielding calls from customers of insurance companies, including callers who need information about their Medicare coverage.

Palmer, who is based in Arizona, said the company is recruiting from the Dallas-Fort Worth area because its demographics show a large number of North Texans already have state insurance licenses, which are required for the job openings.

Cruise ship ended up being safest place for Dallas-Fort Worth woman amid coronavirus

When Dana Lindberg boarded the cruise ship the longest she should have to be at sea consecutively was five days. But by the end of the four-month trip she had been at sea for 40 consecutive days.

Last Friday in Genoa, Italy, the native of Arlington and current resident of Grapevine walked off a cruise ship that she boarded in Venice five days into 2020, and was scheduled to take her around the world.

The Costa Deliziosa was the last of the three remaining passenger ships still sailing to dock. With ports denying cruise ships entry, before Friday, the last time she had been on land was March 14, in Albany, Australia — nearly six consecutive weeks at sea.

While cruise ships became the symbol of floating “hot zones” for the coronavirus, Lindberg’s cruise is the antithesis of the perception that the last place in the world you want to be is on a boat with 1,500 other people.

Lindberg’s voyage didn’t stop at every scheduled port, but her ship did make it all the way ‘round the world, and gave her an experience no “cruiser” has ever had before.

“It was incredible what they had to do. I am not sure it’s ever been done before in the history of cruise ships,” Lindberg said in a phone interview while she was in her hotel room in Milan. “Most of the cruise ships had to abandon in the middle of their trips and sent passengers back home.

“We never got the virus. We were one of the only ships without it. If we had, it would have been horrible.”

A month after giving birth, prison inmate dies of coronavirus at Fort Worth hospital

A 30-year-old inmate at Fort Worth’s federal medical prison who had the novel coronavirus died Tuesday at a hospital, about a month after she delivered a baby by cesarean section, authorities said.

Andrea Circle Bear’s child was born on April 1, three days after it was clear that the Federal Medical Center Carswell inmate was positive for COVID-19, the Federal Bureau of Prisons said.

Circle Bear had been in custody at Carswell since March 20, when she arrived from the city jail in Winner, South Dakota. She had been sentenced in the District of South Dakota to 26 months for maintaining a drug involved premises.

Circle Bear was evaluated on March 28 by Carswell health staff and taken to a hospital because of concerns about her pregnancy, the prisons bureau said. After an evaluation, she was discharged the same day and returned to Carswell.

On March 31, Circle Bear had a fever, dry cough and other symptoms and was seen by Carswell health staff. She was taken to a hospital for further treatment and evaluation and placed on a ventilator.

Protecting Tarrant County inmates from coronavirus is public safety ‘chess game,’ sheriff says

Within four days in early April, almost 100 people were booked into the Tarrant County Jail and then later released.

They sat where others sat before them. They touched doors, handles and benches and then saw a magistrate judge, who decided to release them on bond.

Once released, they were back out in Tarrant County, likely shopping at grocery stores, getting gas or going to work.

In the meantime, jail employees, contractors who cook in the kitchen and officers who make the arrests were exposed to nearly every person who is eventually locked up.

This daily rotation of people in and out of the jail is one reason officials say they are working to contain the spread of coronavirus within its walls.

On Monday, the jail recorded 47 inmates who have tested positive for the novel coronavirus. A week earlier, eight inmates had tested positive. Four jailers have been infected and 50 are in self-quarantine. There are 102 quarantined inmates.

“It’s just a chess game, keeping the hot spots away from a large part of the general population,” Sheriff Bill Waybourn said on April 21 — the last time he spoke publicly about containment strategies at the jail. He noted there were about 3,300 people in jail, which is about 400 fewer inmates than what the jail reported on April 1. Since March, the population has dropped by 17%, according to KERA News.

Cheers! Texans may be able to order alcohol to go ‘forever,’ Gov. Abbott tweets

Ordering alcohol to go from your favorite Texas restaurant may not be just a coronavirus thing.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said late Tuesday night the sales of alcohol to go can continue after May 1, when restaurants in the state are allowed to reopen.

“From what I hear from Texans, we may just let this keep going on forever,” Abbott tweeted.

You hear that, Texans? You can continue to order your margaritas, craft beer and Chardonnay from restaurants in the state and bring it back home.

Sales of beer, wine and mixed drinks have been allowed by the state government during the coronavirus pandemic, as restaurants were forced to halt dine-in services.

A recent plan from Abbott will allow restaurants to reopen Friday as long as they limit occupancy to 25%. Expanded to-go and delivery options will continue to be allowed.

Under the rules for reopening, tables must be six feet apart and cannot seat more than six people, and hand sanitizing stations must be available at entrances, Abbott said in his “Open Texas” report earlier this week.

Restaurants with a mixed beverage permit from the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission can serve alcohol as long as it’s accompanied by a food order. Those with a wine and beer permit can sell alcohol without the purchase of food, according to Texas ABC.

Looking for a ticket refund? Texas Rangers to unveil policy on games lost to coronavirus

Major League Baseball has given its 30 teams the go-ahead to begin issuing refunds for games that have been missed so far because of the coronavirus pandemic, and the Texas Rangers are expected to detail their policy this week.

No games have officially been canceled, only postponed, but the move by MLB appears to be an acknowledgment that 162 games won’t be played in whatever form the 2020 season takes.

Clubs reportedly are not under any sort of league mandate to issue refunds, but MLB and the clubs are aware that fans might need money back during the economic downturn and that doing so might create goodwill.

The Rangers will see their 18th home date of the season at the new Globe Life Field postponed Wednesday. MLB has not settled on a plan on how to play a shortened season, but fans are not expected to be allowed into ballparks once the season resumes.

Arlington adopts Texas governor’s relaxed order on reopening economy during pandemic

The Arlington City Council adopted Tuesday orders from Gov. Greg Abbott for reopening Texas’ economy amid the coronavirus pandemic starting Friday.

Texans have been restricted from leaving their homes except for “essential activities” since early April, a measure Abbott said has worked to reduce the spread of the coronavirus.

Arlington Mayor Jeff Williams said residents should continue to practice social distancing and good hygiene to prove that the city is ready for the economy, including restaurants, stores and recreational businesses, to reopen.

The plan to end the quarantine will come in phases, according to the governor’s plan.

The first set of businesses to reopen, limited to 25% capacity, will include restaurants, shopping malls (though food courts and children’s play areas will remain closed), movie theaters, libraries and museums.

Businesses will have to ensure customers practice social distancing when patronizing.

Is it ‘foolish’ to reopen Texas? What to expect if you shop or eat out this weekend

Texas will look radically different on Friday than it did before the novel coronavirus struck, even as Fort Worth restaurateurs and retailers move eagerly to restart the economy.

Gov. Greg Abbott on Monday said restaurants, stores, theaters, museums and libraries could reopen at 25% occupancy if they ensured social distancing. It’s the first step in a three-part plan to reopen the state that he championed as both socially responsible and economically necessary.

Restaurant and store employees across Fort Worth will be wearing masks and patrons are encouraged to do the same. Many owners said they’re reopening out of necessity, with reservations about how the coronavirus will spread.

“It’s not going to look pretty,” said Gayle Hill, operating officer of Maverick Fine Western Wear and the General Store in the Stockyards.

Both stores are installing Plexiglass at checkouts, taping the floor to mark six-foot distances, and requiring employees and shoppers to wear masks. Sales have fallen more than 75%, she said, so the businesses need to reopen to survive.

Fort Worth restaurants are also taking steps to keep customers safe.

Tim Love has been working for about a week to open nine of his restaurants — excluding The White Elephant and Love Shack — and has consulted with the city to develop protocols for restaurants that go beyond social distancing.

Customers will be screened for fevers, he said, and some locations will have disposable bags to store masks. Each of his buildings has been professionally cleaned and staff will be instructed to wash their hands frequently.

Bar crawl ‘for freedom’ planned in Fort Worth Stockyards to protest coronavirus order

A “Honkytonk Crawl for Freedom” is planned in the Fort Worth Stockyards on Friday to protest state and local coronavirus shutdown orders.

Chris Putnam, a conservative who lost against incumbent Kay Granger in Texas’ 12th Congressional District Republican primary in March, is listed as the host of “The Fort Worth Stockyards Honkytonk Crawl for Freedom.” The protest is planned for 9 p.m. to 12 a.m. at the Basement Bar in the Stockyards, according to the Facebook event.

“Join freedom and liberty-loving patriots as we exercise our Constitutional right to peacefully assemble in support of Fort Worth Stockyards business owners challenging ongoing un-Constitutional, government-imposed closures,” the description of the event said.

On Tuesday afternoon, Putnam declined to comment.

The Basement Bar, which announced on Facebook it would open on May 1, is also listed as a host of the crawl. An owner of the bar, Johnny Cooper, said in a Facebook message that the Basement Bar did not create the event.

City officials said they are ready to issue violations over the crawl, said Brandon Bennett, director of Fort Worth Code Compliance.

“Our lawyers are preparing a letter to the business outlining our intended action for enforcement and we have reached out to TABC for assistance/address liquor license if they proceed in violation of the Governor’s Order,” Bennett said. “We are ready to address any violations.”

Gov. Greg Abbott announced Monday that certain businesses, including restaurants, retail stores and movie theaters, will be allowed to open up at limited capacity on May 1. Bars, however, are not among those businesses that are permitted to operate.

Tarrant County reports 5 more coronavirus deaths, including in Fort Worth, Arlington

Tarrant County reported five more coronavirus deaths and 69 new cases on Tuesday.

The deceased include two Fort Worth men in their 60s, a Grapevine man in his 80s, and two Arlington women in their 70s and 90s.

Tarrant County has confirmed 58 COVID-19 deaths and 2,088 cases, including 289 recoveries.

“Every loss of life to this disease is difficult for us to report, and we are sad for the families and friends of those who are lost,” Tarrant County Public Health Director Vinny Taneja said in a news release.

John Peter Smith Hospital has confirmed 200 positive COVID-19 cases, including 59 current coronavirus patients. Nineteen of the COVID-19 patients are in the intensive care unit, including 13 on ventilators

Of the 58 deaths, 33 have been residents of Fort Worth, six in Arlington, and two each in Azle, Forest Hill, Grapevine, Haltom City, Mansfield, and rural Tarrant County. There has been one death each reported in Grand Prairie, Hurst, Keller, Lakeside, River Oaks, Sansom Park, and Southlake.

After deadliest day, Dallas judge says ‘governor’s orders may change … science will not’

Dallas County tied a single-day high with 10 coronavirus deaths on Tuesday, ranging in age from 17 to the 90s.

Health officials also reported a single-day high 135 new COVID-19 cases for a total of 3,240, including 94 deaths.

Among the latest deaths were two Lancaster residents, including a 17-year-old girl and man in his 40s. Five of the patients were residents of Dallas, one was from Garland and one was from Carrollton. A male in his 60s who was an inmate at a state correctional facility also died. Three of the Dallas deaths were residents of long-term care facilities.

The deceased included two in their 30s, two in their 40s, two in their 70s and one each in their 60s, 80s and 90s.

Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins cautioned business owners and residents to adhere to strict social distancing pandemic guidelines despite Gov. Greg Abbott reopening up the state’s businesses beginning Friday.

“With the Governor’s decree [Monday] opening up more businesses throughout Texas, both North Texas business owners and residents must be particularly careful in making their best personal responsibility choices,” Jenkins said in a release. “The White House and most public health experts are cautioning that the safety precautions should not be loosened until deaths and new cases have seen a two-week decline and there is sufficient testing in the state to provide protection to workers and patrons in the newly open businesses.”

None of the criteria have been met, Jenkins noted, in either the state or in North Texas.

“So it’s particularly important that you exercise good personal decisions to keep you, your family and our community safe,” he said. “Remember, the Governor’s orders may change but the underlying science will not. I strongly recommend everyone take their advice from the CDC and local health authorities as to what is safe for them, their families and our broader community.”

Dallas-area high school student dies from coronavirus, officials say

A 17-year-old girl from Lancaster has died from the coronavirus, according to officials.

Jameela Dirrean-Emoni Barber, who was a student at Lancaster High School, is the first person to die from COVID-19 in the city, Lancaster Independent School District confirmed to Star-Telegram media partner WFAA-TV. Health officials there have confirmed 41 cases.

“Our thoughts and prayers go out to her family as they process the loss of their loved one,” Lancaster Mayor Clyde C. Hairston said in a news release. “It is devastating to see the havoc this virus has put on our community both young and old. We will continue to pray for the family and the safety of our residents during this difficult time.”

Hairston urged residents to continue to practice CDC-recommended social distancing guidelines to control the spread of COVID-19.

Lancaster ISD Superintendent Elijah Granger said in a letter to the community that Jameela was a well-rounded student who was part of the National Honor Society and involved with JROTC, according to the Dallas Morning News.

“Her absence leaves us with fond memories, and the unexplainable sadness of a life gone too soon,” Granger said. “While we will strive to move forward, this day in our district is marked by pain and despair.”

After first coronavirus death, Burleson mayor urges churches to hold off services

Burleson reported its first coronavirus death on Tuesday, that of a 78-year-old man.

The city has confirmed 34 COVID-19 cases, including 20 recoveries.

Burleson Mayor Ken Shetter urged church leaders to consider holding off on in-person services despite Gov. Greg Abbott’s reopening orders, which go into effect on Friday.

“We are approaching or are at the peak of the curve and the risk of spreading COVID-19 has not yet diminished in the state of Texas, particularly in the Tarrant County area,” Shetter said Tuesday during a briefing carried live on Facebook. “Under the CDC guidelines it’s still not safe for people to gather. Hold off until we’ve seen 14 consecutive days of declining rates of new cases.”

Johnson County has confirmed 76 coronavirus cases, including four deaths and 38 recoveries.

Shetter cautioned that the reopening plan does not mean residents are free to congregate or stop adhering to social distancing guidelines.

“If we were to do that, according to every health official that I’ve heard from, we would be putting ourselves at great risk of experiencing a secondary surge,” he said. “We’re still not through the first surge yet.”

Collin County reports two more coronavirus deaths

Collin County reported two more coronavirus deaths in McKinney on Tuesday, including the 10th resident of an assisted living facility.

A 90-year-old man who died Tuesday morning is the 10th resident to die from the Oxford Grand Assisted Living and Memory Center in McKinney. He was diagnosed on April 17 and had underlying health conditions.

A 102-year-old Plano man with underlying health conditions died of COVID-19-related issues at the Life Care Center of Plano.

“To his family, please know that you are in our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time,” Collin County Judge Chris Hill said in a release. “It is always painful to lose a loved one.”

Collin County has confirmed 19 coronavirus deaths and 692 cases, including 16 new cases and 473 recoveries. Of the 200 active patients, 26 have been hospitalized.

Denton County offers drive-thru tests

Denton County reported 13 new COVID-19 cases Tuesday for a total of 738, including 20 deaths and 358 recoveries.

Denton County Public Health is opening its first drive-thru testing center from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday at the DCPH building, 535 South Loop 288 #1003, in Denton.

Prospective patients must have experienced COVID-19 symptoms within the past seven days. To register, call 940-349-2585. Two hundred tests are available on Saturday, and health officials plan to offer additional drive-thru testing sites in the future.

Despite Abbott’s coronavirus order, we should stay home, Tarrant commissioner says

Tarrant County’s stay-at-home order will expire Thursday and then Gov. Greg Abbott’s recent order that lets some businesses reopen on Friday will go into effect.

County commissioners decided Tuesday not to put their own order in effect, to avoid creating confusion with the governor’s order.

“I think he’s made it pretty clear,” Tarrannt County Judge Glen Whitley said Tuesday, during a break in the county commissioners meeting.

Abbott on Monday said Texas businesses will reopen in phases. On Friday, restaurants, movie theaters, malls, retail stores and more will be able to open doors to limited occupancy. The governor stressed that, while businesses don’t have to reopen Friday, officials in communities across Texas may not put stronger or weaker rules into effect.

“With the governor’s order, it was pretty well taken out of our hands to do anything to lessen the restrictions or allow us to modify it in any way,” Whitley said after some residents clamored during the meeting for their businesses to be able to reopen as well. “It is totally in the hands of the governor and the state when or how we open or close businesses.”

That means beauty and nail salons, barbershops and other businesses will have to wait to see if they can reopen in mid-May, when Abbott indicated the next phase may go into effect.

Tipsy Oak restaurant in Arlington opens patio to dine-in customers despite coronavirus

Tipsy Oak in Arlington is opening its tables back up — at least those on the patio.

The local restaurant began seating customers for full service on its patio Sunday, before Gov. Greg Abbott’s plans to gradually reopen businesses in the state were announced Monday.

Tipsy Oak even has concerts with Abbey Brown and The Sound and The Hightower Duo booked for May 1 and 2, respectively.

General Manager Patrick McGlone said the decision to reopen came because owners believe it’s time to get employees back to work after the shutdown due to coronavirus.

“We’re just at a crossroads where we need to get opened back up and get people back to work,” McGlone said. “We need to get back to paying all our employees. A lot of people can’t afford being out of work right now.”

The restaurant has had a lot of support, he said, with customers Sunday driving from as far as Waco to support the business’ decision.

And Arlington officials said Monday that, because Abbott’s plan was announced, the restaurant will be able to continue seating customers on its patio. Susan Schrock, the city’s spokeswoman, said that bars must remain closed and restaurants will be limited to 25% capacity to prevent spread of the virus.

Not all students have internet for their school work. Read Fort Worth is here to help.

Fort Worth students who haven’t had an internet connection to access their online classes will soon have a wireless hot spot to help them out.

The Fort Worth Independent School District and its partner Read Fort Worth are providing the hot spots to students identified through a survey who don’t have internet access.

The school district will distribute around 6,000 hot spots.

The outbreak of coronavirus in Texas and Tarrant County led to 80,000 students in Fort Worth’s school district learning at home.

Read Fort Worth, which usually focuses on making sure third-grade students can read at grade level, is shifting its focus during the coronavirus pandemic to raise money for the effort. And the organization already has its first donor: Facebook, which has a data center in Fort Worth.

The social media giant has donated $500,000 to provide the wireless hot spots.

Read Fort Worth needs the community’s help to raise the remaining $350,000, Read Fort Worth Communications and Marketing Consultant Art Garcia said. Donations can be made online at readfortworth.org/be-a-donor/

This story was originally published April 29, 2020 at 5:36 PM with the headline "Coronavirus live updates April 29: Here’s what to know in the Dallas-Fort Worth area."