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.

North Texas mask maker to testify to Congress on Trump administration COVID missteps

The beginning of Prestige Ameritech, the largest producer of surgical masks in the United States, was audacious.

From its start, the North Texas company’s owners have been preaching to government officials to buy American but were told American products, even if they might be vital for a response to a disease pandemic or, God forbid, a biological weapon attack, were too expensive.

No one listened, and it almost caused the North Richland Hills company to go broke, said one of the company’s boosters, North Richland Hills Mayor Oscar Trevino.

Now the company is embroiled in a controversy its owners persistently and consistently warned about.

The coronavirus pandemic came and the United States did not have, and still does not have, enough surgical masks, and members of Congress are asking why.

Michael Bowen, Prestige Ameritech vice president, is expected to testify Thursday about a whistleblower complaint that raised allegations that the federal government snubbed his offer to produce millions of masks for the federal government, according to published reports.

Jerry Jones, family donate use of AT&T Stadium for Arlington high school graduations

Students graduating from Arlington high schools amid the coronavirus pandemic will be sent off in outdoor ceremonies at AT&T Stadium provided by Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and his family, the district announced on Wednesday.

The Gene and Jerry Jones Family Arlington Youth Foundation is donating the ceremonies for all seven Arlington high schools, officials said. The district typically pays for graduation ceremonies.

Arlington Superintendent Dr. Marcelo Cavazos said in a news release on Wednesday that the district is “humbled and grateful” by the gesture.

“For our more than 4,000 seniors at seven high schools,” he said, “we know that being able to graduate in a beautiful location with their classmates and families present will be more meaningful than ever.”

The announcement represents a change of plans, after district officials said last week ceremonies would be held inside of the University of Texas at Arlington’s College Park Center. The Texas Education Agency later issued graduation procedures for high schools that stipulated ceremonies couldn’t be held indoors, forcing the Arlington school district to find a new venue.

How the PGA Tour plans to hold the Colonial safely amid coronavirus pandemic

The PGA Tour unveiled a detailed, 37-page health and safety plan outlining the protocols and measures that will be taken at next month’s Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial Country Club.

The idea is to create a “bubble” for players and others associated with the event by isolating them from the general public as much as possible, and encouraging social distancing measures on and off the course. The PGA Tour has already said fans would not be able to attend the tournament, which is scheduled for the week of June 8 with tournament rounds June 11-14.

“While we believe we have created an extremely comprehensive health and safety plan, we will not play if we do not feel we can provide a safe and healthy environment for all constituents,” the PGA Tour said in a memo sent to its players.

The PGA Tour is implementing a layered testing approach, starting with a questionnaire and temperature testing for players, caddies and other essential personnel required to run the tournament.

They will also undergo a RT-PCR nasal swab or saliva test before the tournament with results returned within 48 hours. (Players and caddies traveling to the tournament on the PGA Tour’s chartered flight will undergo a pre-travel test as well.)

Tarrant County reports 266 new coronavirus cases, mostly at prison, and 5 more deaths

Tarrant County reported five more coronavirus deaths and 266 new confirmed cases, including 153 at a federal prison, on Wednesday.

The latest deaths include three Fort Worth men in their 50s, 70s and 80s, a Keller woman in her 80s, and an Arlington man in his 50s. All five had underlying health conditions, according to health officials.

The 266 new COVID-19 cases are the second-most reported by the county during the pandemic. The county reported 485 new cases, including 423 at the Federal Medical Center Fort Worth prison for men on Sunday. A sixth inmate from the prison died from the coronavirus on Tuesday.

The county has confirmed a total of 4,076 COVID-19 cases, including 114 deaths and 821 recoveries.

As of Wednesday, the outbreak at the federal prison includes 622 active cases of inmates who have tested positive for the coronavirus, according to the Bureau of Prisons website. Tarrant County officials have said the prison has been slow to report cases to them, so the 153 cases reported Wednesday by the county appear to have been previously reported on the Bureau of Prisons site.

There have been 68 confirmed COVID-19 deaths in Fort Worth, 12 in Arlington and six in Keller.

As of Wednesday, 205 of the county’s hospital beds were occupied by confirmed COVID-19 patients.

Sixth man dies from coronavirus at Fort Worth federal prison where outbreak continues

A sixth inmate from a Fort Worth federal prison died from coronavirus on Tuesday, the Bureau of Prisons announced.

Thomas Rogers, 79, was seen by prison health staff at Federal Medical Center Fort Worth on April 20 for altered mental status. He passed out and health services administered life-saving efforts and revived him, according to the BOP.

Rogers was taken to a hospital and tested positive for COVID-19.

On Tuesday, Rogers died at the hospital.

According to the BOP, he had long-term, pre-existing medical conditions. He was sentenced in the Southern District of California to a 188-month sentence for armed bank robbery and being a felon in possession of a firearm. He had been in custody at FMC Fort Worth since July 20, 2015.

Despite 11 days of over 200 coronavirus cases, Dallas judge hopes ‘plateau’ in sight

Dallas County reported 243 new coronavirus cases and five more deaths on Wednesday.

The five latest pandemic deaths were three residents of Dallas and two residents of Mesquite in their 60s and 70s, including a female resident of a long-term care facility in Mesquite in her 60s.

Dallas County has confirmed 6,602 total COVID-19 cases, including 153 deaths. The county is not reporting daily case recoveries.

“Today’s numbers are in line with what we’ve been seeing over the last 10 days,” Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins said in a news release. “Although we lost five of our residents today, halfway through the week we are seeing a lower number of deaths than we saw last week, which is a promising sign. Hopefully, this plateau will lead to a decrease.”

Restrictions slowed COVID-19 in Fort Worth, but loosening may lead to surge, study finds

A study has found that Tarrant County’s stay-at-home and social distancing orders were effective in “slowing transmission” of the coronavirus.

But the study, conducted by the University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth concludes that the lifting of pandemic restrictions on May 1 could undo much of that success.

“With the lifting of many of the mandated restrictions starting May 1, it remains to be seen how effective the more limited social-distancing measures are,” Dr. Rajesh Nandy said in a press release announcing the study’s findings.

Nandy, the associate professor of biostatistics and epidemiology, conducted the analysis.

“We may be in the third inning of a nine-inning game,” Dr. Dennis Thombs, dean of the School of Public Health Dean, said in the release. “The final local outcomes are dependent upon the practices we adopt going forward. Increased mobility creates risk that new cases will surge.”

HSC studied data from Tarrant County Public Heath, the North Central Texas Trauma Regional Advisory Council and the Johns Hopkins University Corona Virus Resource Center.

The study found Tarrant County has an adequate amount of hospital beds, intensive care beds and ventilators for the “near future.”

Nandy said the HSC will continue to monitor the transmission of COVID-19 “to identify a future surge in the number of cases,” since the mandated restrictions have been lifted.

Thousands schedule drive-through COVID tests after using Tarrant County screening tool

More than 4,700 people in Tarrant County have used the new self-screening COVID-19 website since its launch a little more than two weeks ago.

The website, which began taking free coronavirus assessments on April 26, asks a series of questions to determine if someone meets the criteria for a COVID-19 test. If they do, an appointment time is scheduled, though those times still remain limited.

By Tuesday afternoon, 4,743 people had been screened and 2,002 made appointments. Another 1,010 qualified for an appointment but didn’t schedule one (the county said about 200 of those were likely from fake accounts or people just messing around). More than 1,760 people did not qualify for an appointment.

The website does not reflect how many positive tests were returned.

New trouble for Texas BBQ restaurants: High beef cost ‘the final nail in the coffin’

First, restaurants were staggered by an ongoing pandemic.

Now, they can’t always find enough meat.

Pitmasters shared stories last week of food suppliers running out of brisket, the gold standard for a city emerging as the new hot spot for Texas barbecue.

Heim Barbecue’s suppliers haven’t run short yet but wholesale brisket prices are going up, Travis Heim wrote by email.

“When it rains, it pours,” he wrote.

“Talking with our suppliers, it seems pretty bad.”

Fort Worth Symphony cancels Concert in the Garden series over coronavirus pandemic

The Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra has canceled the 30th Annual Concerts in the Garden series because of the coronavirus pandemic.

“With heavy heart and much disappointment, the Board has made the difficult decision to cancel Concerts in the Garden for this year,” Chairwoman Mercedes T. Bass said in a release. “We face too many challenges this year due to the COVID-19 virus. We look forward to seeing you at the Botanic Garden in the summer of 2021.”

Tickets can be refunded or exchanged for other performances. Customers may also use their purchase as a donation. Ticket holders will receive an email with instructions on how to request a ticket return. Customers may also visit fwsymphony.org or by call the box office at 817-665-6500.

Texas Rangers more optimistic about pandemic baseball, but not sure about the details

Staying fully dedicated to baseball during the coronavirus pandemic hasn’t been an issue for Texas Rangers players, said All-Star outfielder Joey Gallo.

They read and hear about reports that the 2020 MLB season is considering an early July start, which would translate into an early June reboot of spring training.

Those reports have gained steam, to the point where Rangers manager Chris Woodward has officially told players to gear their workouts for an early June return even though nothing is official.

But Woodward is optimistic the owners and players will put aside the expected haggling over salary compensation and that baseball will be played.

With expanded rosters. Without the traditional use of minor leaguers as a support system. Without fans. With microphones to spice up TV broadcasts.

In the end, baseball is still mostly going to be baseball.