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.

Here’s what happened when Fort Worth businesses reopened after coronavirus closures

If you’re planning to eat at Joe T. Garcia’s this weekend, don’t look for the legendarily long line for patio seating to tell you if the Mexican food restaurant is open.

It is open, for patio seating only right now, but the line won’t be there.

Joe Lancarte, one of the family owners of the restaurant, said he’s allowing 15% of capacity — about 150 people — to eat on the patio at any given time. Once that number is reached, people will be asked to wait in their cars until a table opens. No customers are being served inside at least for this weekend.

“It’s going good,” he said Friday, shortly after 11 a.m., when Joe T’s opened as allowed by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s latest executive orders. “So many people are ready to get out.”

Abbott’s most recent order creating a phased-in approach to reopening Texas after stay-at-home orders in response to the novel coronavirus pandemic were lifted. Retail shops, restaurants and movie theaters were allowed to open Friday at 25% capacity.

But not all businesses opened their doors.

While streets were much busier Friday, parking lots at shopping areas ranging from Hulen Mall to the University Park Village center were mostly empty. Cars — several with masks dangling from rear-view mirrors — frequently drove through the parking lots, as drivers tried to determine which stores were open.

As online graduation plan is criticized, Fort Worth schools chief says ‘no’ to alternatives

The Fort Worth Independent School District is too large a system to adopt the high school graduation alternatives that other districts have, Superintendent Kent Scribner said Friday, as criticism of his plan to move ceremonies online intensified.

With about 20 graduations and 5,000 seniors expected to take part in the ritual as coronavirus pandemic concerns remain heightened, holding a commencement at a drive-in theater, for example, is impractical, Scribner said.

The superintendent spoke from his desk in a video in which he addressed members of the senior class. Many of those students and their parents criticized the plan to hold graduation ceremonies online since the district announced it Wednesday.

In a step not described in the original announcement, Scribner said it was possible he would consider options for a graduation celebration later this summer.

About 715 comments were left on the district’s Facebook posting on the graduation decision.

Scribner said he expected the passion and noted the support the district had received from some quarters for the online plan.

”Some families have told us they would not feel safe attending, or even allowing their seniors to participate in, any large gatherings this spring.”

In the virtual graduations, students will share photos of themselves in cap and gown, the district said. Other details have not been released.

Number of Tarrant County inmates testing positive for coronavirus grows by two-thirds

On Monday, officials with the Tarrant County Jail reported that 47 inmates had tested positive for COVID-19, which is caused by the novel coronavirus.

By Friday that number had grown to 78, nearly a 66% increase.

According to Tarrant County officials, four inmates have recovered from the disease, while 18 jail staff employees have tested positive. Four members of the jail staff also have recovered, Tarrant County officials reported.

All inmates and jail staff members who have tested positive for COVID-19 are in quarantine, are in good condition and are receiving treatment, a news release from the Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office says.

Tarrant County officials reported that on Friday the jail population was 3.385, up slightly from April 24 when the number of inmates in the jails had been reduced to 3,312.

Tarrant County reports 2nd-most single-day new coronavirus cases, death of woman in 50s

Tarrant County reported 142 new coronavirus cases Friday, its second highest single-day count of the pandemic, and the 69th death.

The most cases reported by the county in a single day were 146 on April 23. There were 130 new cases on Thursday, and the past three-day combined total of 383 new cases is the second-highest three-day total since 397 were reported April 23-25.

The latest COVID-19-related death is a Fort Worth woman in her 50s who had underlying health conditions, county officials said. She’s the 43rd Fort Worth resident to die from the coronavirus and the county’s 19th death between ages 45 and 64. Forty-five deaths have been patients 65 or older and five have been between 25 and 44.

The county has confirmed 2,388 coronavirus cases, including 551 recovered patients and 69 deaths.

Record coronavirus cases for 2nd consecutive day in Dallas County despite no test change

Dallas County reported a single-day high for the second consecutive day on Friday with 187 new coronavirus cases and two more deaths.

The deaths include a Dallas man in his 20s and a man in his 50s who was an inmate of a Hutchins correctional facility.

Both had been critically ill in area hospitals. Dallas County has confirmed 3,718 COVID-19 cases and 106 deaths. The county is not reporting recovered patient totals.

The three highest single-day case totals have come this week.

“This increase in positive cases has occurred without any significant increase in testing capacity,” Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins said in a release. “We have seen younger people dying from COVID-19 this week and today’s victims add to that list. All this illustrates why we all must make smart decisions and follow the science to flatten the curve.”

The judge urged residents to wear face coverings when visiting businesses and to limit unnecessary shopping trips.

“Remember ‘#StayHomeSavesLives’ until we achieve two consecutive weeks of decline,” he said.

Collin, Denton counties report double-digit new coronavirus cases, additional deaths

Denton and Collin Counties both reported an additional coronavirus-related death on Friday.

Collin County reported 41 new COVID-19 cases and one death. Denton County reported 21 new cases and one new death.

An 88-year-old McKinney man with underlying health conditions died Friday morning at the Grand Brook Memory Care facility in McKinney. He’s the second COVID-19-related death at the facility. There have also been 10 pandemic-related deaths at the Oxford Grand Assisted Living Center in McKinney.

“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. “All of us at Collin County are saddened at the report of another COVID-19 death within our community.”

Collin County has confirmed 765 cases, including 509 patient recoveries and 22 deaths. Of the 234 active cases, 25 are hospitalized.

A female resident at the Denton Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in her 60s is the 22nd COVID-19-related death in Denton County. It’s the second consecutive day a resident of the facility has died from the coronavirus and at least the sixth since April 11. The county reported 21 new cases on Friday for a total of 786, including 389 patient recoveries.

“As we report the loss of a twenty-second life to COVID-19 in Denton County today, please keep the family in your thoughts and prayers,” Denton County Judge Andy Eads said in a release. “We know that each life lost to COVID-19 is one too many.”

A Fort Worth man died alone on his couch at 37. He had coronavirus, a test revealed.

The symptoms were mild at first, but by the time Glenmar Gabriel’s family knew he tested positive for the coronavirus, it was too late.

He was gone, at the age of 37.

He died on April 5. His test results came back April 6.

Though he tested positive, a medical examiner’s report states the cause of death is pending. Gabriel’s loved ones may not know the results for several weeks, possibly months.

They know that he had been in good health, and that he died alone on his couch.

Some of the many sad scenarios created by the coronavirus are the families left to wonder why and how their loved ones died, while knowing they did so alone.

Known lovingly to his family and friends as “Boss Gee,” Gabriel had a love of beaches and traveling. He liked to say, “A day at the beach gives me space to dream.”

Gabriel lived in the Fort Worth city limits, just south of Euless, and worked at DFW International Airport in the fleet service crew for Envoy, a subsidiary of American Airlines.

His is a COVID-19 case where there are more questions than answers.

Tears fall as 25-year-old coronavirus patient recovers, leaves Fort Worth hospital

Wilifredo “Willie” Merlin-Montoya wept Wednesday afternoon as he got hugs from his family just outside of Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth.

Tears rolled down his cheeks as he was reunited with his brother.

After all, Merlin-Montoya, one of the first patients at the Fort Worth hospital to be treated for coronavirus, had just seen his family for the first time in 42 days after fighting and recovering from the disease.

“I just got so emotional what with the support of the hospital and my family,” the River Oaks resident said Friday in a telephone interview with the Fort Worth Star-Telegram as his voice quivered. “I almost lost my life.”

Merlin-Montoya, who donned a mask, was discharged from the hospital on Wednesday afternoon amid applause and cheers from the staff at Texas Health Fort Worth.

“We were surprised how quickly he went from speaking with us to needing immediate care,” said Kelli Long, manager of the medical surgical progressive care unit at Texas Health Fort Worth.

Some Fort Worth bingo halls planned to reopen Friday amid coronavirus. The city says they can’t

After being closed for weeks, some, but not all, bingo halls were hoping for a big payout as they partially reopened across the Fort Worth area Friday amid the coronavirus outbreak.

But they’re risking their luck, because the city of Fort Worth says bingo halls are not part of the first phase of businesses allowed to open their doors, and it will investigate those that do.

Starting Friday, restaurants, retail stores, movie theaters, malls, libraries and museums could begin operating at 25% capacity as part of a phased reopening of Texas businesses that Gov. Greg Abbott announced Monday. Some Fort Worth business owners said they’re reopening out of necessity — a day after Texas reported a single-day high of 50 COVID-19 related deaths and 1,033 new cases.

Abbott’s executive order also explicitly notes that “interactive amusement venues such as bowling alleys and video arcades” are still prohibited from opening in the first phase. But bingo hall owners argue they don’t fall within that category.

Cathy Anderson, owner of Town and Country Bingo off of Jacksboro Highway, said she spoke with people who had been in contact with the governor’s office, “and I was told that we do have the OK to open.” Anderson declined to provide more details on who she spoke with.

“We were considered to be under entertainment. They’re opening movie theaters — entertainment,” Anderson said Thursday. “So we fall underneath the entertainment (category), which is also non-essential retailers.”

However, Anderson said Friday afternoon that she would not be reopening Town and Country Bingo like she’d planned to after hearing other bingo halls were closing their doors in light of the city’s guidance.

Fort Worth, Arlington school districts push for funding in next coronavirus package

The Fort Worth and Arlington school districts are among the members of the Council of the Great City Schools who are asking Congress to include funding for local school systems in the next coronavirus aid package.

In a letter to top lawmakers in the House and Senate, schools are seeking $202 billion in relief after schools were forced into emergency action by the coronavirus pandemic. President Trump declared a national emergency in March, and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott closed classrooms for the school year April 17.

The money would be used in a variety of ways, with the goal of preventing schools from taking the drastic measure of laying off teachers.

The ramifications are not only profound for the students involved, but for the nation,” the letters reads. “This educational catastrophe could weaken the country’s economic foundation for years.”

Fort Worth ISD’s Kent Scribner was one of 62 superintendents to sign the letter.

School districts have been providing meals to students and technology for those who don’t have access to computers and Internet access for at-home learning.

The letter asks Congress to approve $175 billion for Educational Stabilization Funds; an additional $13 billion for the Individual with Disabilities Education Act; $12 billion in additional Title I program funding, and $2 billion for E-Rate and emergency infrastructure funds that include public schools.

Texas Motor Speedway to hold unique graduation ceremonies for Denton County schools

Thousands of North Texas high school seniors will have a unique opportunity to receive their diplomas at Texas Motor Speedway, Denton County school district superintendents announced Friday.

Denton County has 23 high schools that will participate in the graduation ceremony that has become necessary due the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Individual dates and times for each commencement will be later announced.

School districts include: Argyle, Aubrey, Denton, Krum, Lake Dallas, Lewisville, Little Elm, Northwest, Pilot Point, Ponder, Sanger and Westlake Academy.

During the ceremony, graduates will accept their diploma in-person in “Victory Lane” providing a memorable ending to a bizarre stretch in which the last quarter of the academic year was moved exclusively online in an effort to promote social distancing across the state.

“We were glad to be able to provide some ideas to our area superintendents on how in-person graduation ceremonies can continue,” said Denton County Judge Andy Eads. “We know this is an important rite of passage for our Denton County seniors and their families.”

Whistleblower warned of conditions at Fort Worth prison before woman died of coronavirus

On April 1, 30-year-old Andrea Circle Bear became the mother of a baby girl at a local Fort Worth hospital.

She was a member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe. She was also an inmate at FMC Carswell, Fort Worth’s federal medical prison for women, and a COVID-19 patient.

And on Tuesday, four weeks after she gave birth, Circle Bear also became the first woman to die from coronavirus while in federal custody.

In the weeks before her death, Circle Bear’s fellow inmates and the staff at FMC Carswell sounded the alarm about the potential spread of COVID-19 in the prison. They described confusion over coronavirus safety guidelines and the lack of social distancing.

Circle Bear was in her third trimester when she was transferred to FMC Carswell on March 20 from a jail in South Dakota, the Bureau of Prisons said in a press release about her death. When she got to Carswell, Circle Bear was immediately put into quarantine, per the BOP’s COVID-19 procedures.

Medical staff evaluated Circle Bear and became concerned about her pregnancy on March 28. They took her to the hospital and she was discharged later that day.

Three days later, she developed a fever, a dry cough and other COVID-19 symptoms. She went to the hospital again.

This time, she never left.

Circle Bear was placed on a ventilator to help her breathe. On April 1, she gave birth while on the ventilator via cesarean section and, on April 4, she tested positive for COVID-19, the BOP said.

We left our workspaces because of coronavirus. Then Texas wildlife moved in

For the wildlife of Dallas-Fort Worth, a strip mall dumpster used to be heaven. Every night, after a long day of lurking in crevices, under floorboards or just over the hedge, a rat or a raccoon could dive into a green receptacle overflowing with trash and have their fill of our leftovers. Then: coronavirus. We all went home. Restaurants and offices closed. And the dumpsters are empty. “So there’s kind of a shift,” says Randall Kennedy, owner of Dallas-Fort Worth Wildlife Control.

That shift has brought the rodents into new territories in search of food and shelter. Specifically they have moved from shadows, walls and crawl spaces into the more public areas we used to congregate pre-corona. Kennedy has seen this firsthand in spas, warehouses, dentist offices and restaurants. His business, which uses trapping and relocation, is up about 50% in the last few weeks compared to what he’d typically see this time of year.

In early April, his crew was hired by a warehouse in south Fort Worth. Most of the staff had been let go, and most operations had ceased. The warehouse, which had easy entry through bay doors, was overrun by raccoons and possums and at least one fox.

The change in animals’ behavior comes down to comfort. They are mainly nocturnal and avoid people as much as they can. Now there’s no one to avoid. “If (animals) can get in and nobody is in there they’re going to go in there,” Kennedy says.

Fort Worth Wildlife Removal has also experienced a boom in business it attributes to increased exploration from animals. Business for Eco-Safe, a DFW-area rodent control and cleaning company operated by Greg Ahern and Gregory Brandt, has been up about 30% to 40% beyond what they would normally expect. They’ve noticed an uptick in rodent activity while sanitizing restaurants in downtown Dallas and north Fort Worth. “An area of foot traffic goes away and they feel more comfortable to explore,” Brandt says. “It’s their normal behavior.”

Paxton warns local officials against encouraging vote-by-mail due to coronavirus fears

Attorney General Ken Paxton informed county judges and election officials Friday that if they advise voters who normally aren’t eligible to apply for mail-in ballots due to a fear of contracting COVID-19, they could be subject to criminal sanctions.

His warning came in a letter to local officials Friday and two weeks after a state district judge had issued a temporary injunction allowing 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.

During a hearing last month, the Texas Democratic Party 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.”

In Friday’s letter, Paxton said that while a person ill with COVID-19 would qualify under the state’s definition of “a sickness,” a fear of contracting the virus is simply “a normal emotional reaction to the current pandemic and does not, by itself, amount to a ‘sickness’” that would meet the eligibility requirements to vote-by-mail.

Therefore, officials and “third parties” should not advise voters to apply for mail-in ballots for those “who lack a qualifying sickness or physical condition to vote by mail in response to COVID-19,” the letter reads.

Chad Dunn, the general counsel for the Texas Democratic Party, which is one of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit, said in a statement Friday that the court has already overruled Paxton’s arguments.

“Paxton can keep on stating his opinion over and over again for as long as he wants but the bottom line is he needs to get a court to agree with him,” Dunn said. “We all have opinions. In our constitutional system, what courts say is what matters.”