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.

Coronavirus testing in Fort Worth is now open to more people. Should you get screened?

More Fort Worth residents can qualify for free coronavirus testing now as the city and Tarrant County expand criteria at public screening sites.

Testing standards originally focused on health care workers, first responders and those who were severely symptomatic. Public health officials later expanded the criteria to include essential government workers as well as anyone with a doctor’s order or who had been in contact with a confirmed case of coronavirus, regardless of symptoms.

As the number of people seeking a test has declined and the capacity to test has increased, public testing sites in Fort Worth and Arlington have broadened restrictions on who can qualify for a free test.

Now, regardless of symptoms, retail workers can get tested. Those over 65 and adults with pre-existing conditions, such as heart disease or diabetes, can also get a free test without symptoms. There is one caveat: the public test sites are open only to those over 18, so children should be taken to a private testing site.

That means grocery store, drug store and other workers frequently exposed to the general public may qualify for a test.

This is one step closer to being able to test everyone in the county, Tarrant County Public Health Director Vinny Taneja said, but more strides in testing availability will need to be made first.

“We’ve gotten it so loose that the next step is basically opening it up to everyone,” he said. “But then you’ll have more than 2 million people who can get a test … that’s a big undertaking. For now there has to still be some methodology and screening applied.”

Texas expands coronavirus testing at state-run psychiatric hospitals and living centers

Texas is expanding its coronavirus testing at 23 state-operated inpatient psychiatric hospitals and living centers throughout the state.

Gov. Greg Abbott directed the Texas Health and Human Services Commission to expand COVID-19 tests to all patients, residents and employees at each of the facilities across the state.

“By expanding widespread COVID-19 testing to our state hospitals and state-supported living centers, we are better equipped to identify and mitigate these potential hot spots and protect our most vulnerable populations,” Abbott said in a release.

HHSC operates 13 state-supported living centers, which provide 24-hour residential care, medical services and vocational training for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Texas also operates 10 state hospitals that provide acute inpatient psychiatric care for adults, children and adolescents.

At the Denton State Supported Living Center, 122 people have tested positive for COVID-19, including 55 residents. It has been weeks since Denton County reported any new cases at the facility.

The state reports 161 patients and residents have tested positive across 23 facilities, including 107 recoveries. According to state health officials, there’s at least one positive patient or resident at seven of the 23 facilities. The state reports fewer than 10 residents and patients have died from COVID-19. The state is not reporting overall totals of infected employees, but 67 have tested positive at the Denton living center. There are about 18,000 employees working at the 23 facilities.

“By expanding testing to everyone in our facilities, we will increase our ability to further protect everyone who lives and works in our facilities and prevent the spread of the virus throughout our system,” HHS Executive Commissioner Phil Wilson said.

TCU examining different scenarios for fall semester amid coronavirus pandemic

Several colleges across the country, including the University of Texas and Rice, have already announced plans for shortened fall semesters by eliminating fall breaks and ending in-person classes by Thanksgiving.

The thought process is to limit student travel and get ahead of a potential “second wave” of the coronavirus expected to hit next winter.

TCU has not made a decision whether to implement similar measures, the school said in a statement to the Star-Telegram on Thursday night.

“TCU has not made any changes to the 2020-2021 academic calendar at this time,” the statement read. “We have announced our fall semester will start in August. As part of our continuity planning, TCU is examining a variety of scenarios to ensure a safe campus environment for our students, faculty and staff.”

TCU Chancellor Victor J. Boschini Jr. told staff and faculty in an email last month that the plan was to start in-person fall classes on Aug. 24.

COVID-19 cases over time

Coronavirus daily case counts over time by local counties in the Dallas - Fort Worth metroplex. Tap the arrow button to replay the animation. Data provided by Texas Health and Human Services and local counties.

Steve Wilson swilson@star-telegram.com

Tarrant County reports 7 new COVID deaths; minorities make up majority of total deaths

Tarrant County reported seven more coronavirus deaths and 92 new cases on Thursday.

The latest deaths included residents of Fort Worth, Keller, Arlington and rural Tarrant County and ranged in age from their 60s to 90s.

The county has confirmed a total of 4,803 COVID-19 cases, including 139 deaths and 1,782 recoveries.

The latest deaths include an Arlington woman in her 80s, two Keller men in their 80s and 90s, and a man in his 60s who lived in unincorporated Tarrant County. The Fort Worth residents included a man his 60s, a man in his 70s and woman in her 80s.

All had underlying medical conditions, health officials reported.

Of the 139 COVID-19 deaths, 86 have been in Fort Worth, 14 in Arlington and 10 in Keller.

Of the total 4,803 pandemic cases, 31% of the patients are Hispanic, 22% are white, 16% are black, 4% are Asian/Pacific Islander, 1% are labeled as “other” and 26% did not report a race.

Of the total deaths, about 47% have been white, 27% have been black, 23% have been Hispanic, 3% Asian/Pacific Islander, and 1% American Indian.

According to the most recent U.S. Census numbers, Tarrant County’s population is approximately 46% white, 29% Hispanic, 17.5% black, 6% Asian/Pacific Islander and 1% American Indian.

Dallas County passes 200 coronavirus deaths, including 3 more long-term care residents

Dallas County reported 183 new coronavirus cases and seven deaths on Thursday.

The county has confirmed a total of 8,273 COVID-19 cases and 203 deaths.

The seven latest deaths include a Lancaster man in his 50s, a Dallas woman in her 50s, a Dallas man in his 60s, a Dallas man in his 80s, a Mesquite woman in her 80s and two Dallas women in their 90s. The last three women were residents of long-term care facilities.

More than a third of the 203 pandemic deaths in Dallas County have been residents of long-term care facilities across the county, according to health officials.

“Today’s numbers continue a trend that we’re seeing this week of less positive cases. Our hospital COVID-19 beds, ICU admissions and emergency room visits for COVID-19 symptoms have remained flat,” Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins said. “This information does not change that the most important thing we can do to flatten the curve and get to a place where we can safely do more things and get our economy moving again is to make good personal responsibility decisions.”

Parker County reports first coronavirus-related death; Denton County confirms 29th

Parker County reported its first coronavirus-related death on Thursday.

The deceased was a resident of Weatherford but no other details such as age or sex were released.

Parker County Judge Pat Deen said in a release the patient’s “primary cause of death was not due to COVID-19.”

“However, COVID-19 may have been a contributing factor,” he said. “Under federal guidelines, if COVID-19 is listed as a contributing factor on the death certificate, the death is counted as a COVID-19 death. We are indeed saddened by this tragic news and send the family our deepest condolences.”

Parker County has confirmed 67 positive COVID-19 cases, including 54 recoveries. The county is reporting 12 active cases and 876 negative tests. Of the total 67 confirmed cases, 26 have been in Weatherford, nine in Springtown, eight in Azle, seven in Aledo, five in Reno, four in Willow Park, three in Peaster, two in Cresson, and one each in Cool, Lipan and Poolville.

DENTON, COLLIN COUNTIES UPDATE

Denton County reported the death of a woman in her 70s who was a resident of the Denton Rehabilitation Center. The woman had been hospitalized. She’s the county’s 29th COVID-19 death.

The county also reported 27 new cases, a day after reporting 45, the most in more than a month. There have been 1,188 total cases, including 29 deaths and 610 recoveries.

Collin County reported 28 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday for a total of 1,118, including 31 deaths and 754 recoveries. Among the 333 active cases, 16 patients are hospitalized.

Coronavirus survivor meets Fort Worth priest who may have helped save his life

A 42-year-old man who was hospitalized for 21 days with coronavirus met the Fort Worth priest who donated plasma to help save his life on Wednesday.

Jose Martinez spent 11 days on a ventilator at Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital after being diagnosed with COVID-19 on March 20, the hospital said in a news release.

“It’s a horrible and strange disease, because you’re alone during this sickness – either at home or in the hospital. Some people die, not evening knowing what happened because they’re on a ventilator,” Martinez said in the hospital’s news release. “Hearing those words from my family was what I desperately needed. It gave me strength and comfort.”

Martinez’s care team started him on a five-day treatment plan, but his oxygen levels kept dropping until he had to be put on a ventilator in the ICU.

“It started to become a blur after that to me,” Martinez said. “I deteriorated pretty quick to where they had to put me on the ventilator. Once I’m on that, you’re basically in an induced coma.”

His doctor, Dr. John Burk, knew Martinez needed more help to fight the virus. He talked with the family about COVID-19 convalescent plasma therapy.

“It’s a meticulous process that’s done on a case-by-case basis, but it’s one that is often used as a last resort for critically ill patients, such as Mr. Martinez,” Burk said in the news release.

People who have recovered from COVID-19 have antibodies to the disease in their blood, according to the Mayo Clinic. The blood from people who’ve recovered is called convalescent plasma, and early research shows it can help people with severe COVID-19 boost their ability to fight the virus.

Martinez’s family decided to try the treatment, but the next step was finding someone with Martinez’s blood type who had recovered from coronavirus.

The Rev. Robert Pace was the first person to test positive for COVID-19 in Tarrant County. Pace, the rector of Trinity Episcopal Church in Fort Worth, was admitted to the hospital in early March and spent about two weeks in quarantine.

When he recovered, Pace became one of the first people in the state to donate their plasma.

“Knowing that something as simple as giving plasma could make a difference was — the word I’m looking for is it was a blessing,” Pace said.

Travelers flying to Texas no longer need to self-quarantine amid COVID, Abbott says

Travelers flying to Texas from certain areas will no longer be required to self-quarantine for two weeks, Gov. Greg Abbott announced Thursday.

Abbott issued an executive order terminating his previous restrictions that mandated 14-day quarantines for travelers flying from California, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Washington, Atlanta, Georgia, Chicago, Illinois, Detroit, Michigan or Miami, Florida.

Abbott’s order is effective immediately, and ends any mandatory self-quarantine that was already underway, according to the executive order. The rescinded travel restrictions come amid the second phase of business reopenings in Texas, and one day ahead of bars, bowling alleys, aquariums and more being permitted to reopen at 25% capacity.

In late March, Abbott placed restrictions on people flying to Texas from the tri-state area or the city of New Orleans, as both had been hotspots at the time for the coronavirus’ outbreak in the U.S. Days later, Abbott expanded the list of locations subject to travel restrictions.

Abbott had rescinded his requirements for travelers driving or flying to Texas from Louisiana in late April when he announced a phased reopening of Texas businesses.

Texas driver’s license offices to soon reopen by appointment only for limited services

Gov. Greg Abbott announced Thursday that Texas’ driver’s license offices will begin a phased reopening next week after being closed for two months due to the novel coronavirus’ outbreak.

The Texas Department of Public Safety will reopen offices by region and customers must book an appointment online in order to visit, according to a news release. DPS will launch a statewide system that will allow people to book appointments up to six months in advance.

DPS’ North and Southeast Texas regions will reopen June 3, and Tarrant County residents will be able to book appointments online starting at 1 p.m. May 29. Services will be limited to those who don’t have a driver’s license, commercial driver’s license, learner permit or ID card, in addition to those who need a driving test.

Some of the counties served in DPS’ North Texas region include Tarrant, Dallas, Denton, Collin, Erath, Hood, Wise, Palo Pinto and more, according to the region’s Facebook page.

DPS’ Northwest and West Texas regions will be the first to reopen on May 26, followed by the South and Central Texas regions on May 29.

Drive-through coronavirus testing available at CVS locations across Dallas-Fort Worth

Dallas-Fort Worth residents looking to be tested for the novel coronavirus can now visit select CVS Pharmacy drive-through locations in a new partnership Gov. Greg Abbott announced Thursday.

CVS Health will open 44 test sites across Texas where residents will have the option to use self-swab tests, and the company plans to have over 80 locations throughout the state by the end of May, according to the news release. Individuals who meet Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria in addition to age guidelines will qualify for testing. A doctor’s referral is not required, according to CVS Health.

Starting Friday, patients must schedule an appointment at CVS.com, where they will submit their information and be scheduled for an appointment the same day or up to two days out if they qualify.

When patients arrive for their appointment, they will be directed to the pharmacy’s drive-through window, where they will be provided with a self-swab kit and given instructions on how to use it. A CVS employee will ensure the process is done properly, and the sample will be sent a lab. Results will be available in about three days.

Denton County offers drive-through coronavirus testing Friday at Trophy Club town hall

Denton County Public Health will hold a coronavirus drive-through testing site Friday from 8 a.m.-noon at the Trophy Club town hall, 1 Trophy Wood Drive.

Testing is free, but individuals must register by calling 940-349-2585.

Patients must have had COVID-19 symptoms within the previous seven days, or be considered critical infrastructure workers.

Symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, loss of taste or smell, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.

Testing is not limited to Trophy Club residents, Mayor Nick Sanders stressed.

“We are very happy that Denton County Public Health choose Trophy Club for one of their drive-through sites. We appreciate the opportunity to have not only Trophy Club residents, but anyone who is not feeling well, have the ability to make an appointment and get tested,” Sanders said. “This virus is nothing to take lightly, and we are happy to have this option available here.”

For more information, go to dentoncounty.gov/covid19testing.