Coronavirus live updates June 12: Here’s what to know in the Dallas-Fort Worth area
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.
Tarrant County reports Hurst death, 225 coronavirus cases, 3rd-highest single-day total
Tarrant County reported 225 new coronavirus cases on Thursday, its third-highest single-day total of the pandemic.
The county also reported another pandemic-related death, a Hurst man in his 80s with underlying health conditions. It’s the third reported coronavirus death in Hurst.
Tarrant County has confirmed a total of 6,824 COVID-19 cases, including 190 deaths and at least 2,938 recoveries. Health officials said the sizable increase in new cases could be due, in part, to a lab reporting issue. Larger testing capacity in the area could also be a factor.
From Sunday through Wednesday, there have been 199, 73, 190, and 205 daily new cases reported, according to data from the county’s COVID-19 case tracker by report date. These numbers can fluctuate as data is added and revised.
Dallas County reports another record day of coronavirus cases, hospitalizations spiking
Dallas County reported a new single-day high of new coronavirus cases Thursday for the third consecutive day.
The county reported 312 cases and three COVID-19 deaths. The latest deaths were Dallas residents, including a woman in her 50s, a man in his 60s who was a resident of a long-term care facility, and a man in his 70s. All three had been seriously ill in area hospitals and had underlying conditions, according to health officials.
Dallas County reported a new single-day high of new coronavirus cases Thursday for the third consecutive day.
The county reported 312 cases and three COVID-19 deaths. The latest deaths were Dallas residents, including a woman in her 50s, a man in his 60s who was a resident of a long-term care facility, and a man in his 70s. All three had been seriously ill in area hospitals and had underlying conditions, according to health officials.
“These are the numbers we’re looking at to most accurately predict a second surge, and doctors are looking at these numbers closely,” Jenkins said. “It’s more important than ever that you avoid large crowds, maintain 6-foot distancing, wear a cloth face covering when on public transportation, around people in businesses, or at other gatherings, and use good hygiene.”
It’s the sixth time in the past week the county has reported a new single-day record. The county has reported 200 or more coronavirus cases every day for the past 15 days.
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.
11th inmate at federal medical prison in Fort Worth dies from coronavirus
An 11th inmate from a federal medical prison in Fort Worth died from coronavirus on Wednesday, the Bureau of Prisons said.
Robert Hoffman, 75, was seen by Health Services Staff at Federal Medical Center Fort Worth on May 1 for stomach problems. He tested positive for COVID-19 and was put in isolation.
On June 8, he was short of breath and fatigued. Staff took him to the hospital. Two days later, Hoffman died.
Hoffman had long-term, pre-existing medical conditions, the BOP said. He was sentenced in the Western District of Missouri to five years for possession, receipt, and distribution of child pornography. He had been in custody at FMC Fort Worth since Feb. 2, 2017.
Nearly half of the inmates at the prison have tested positive for COVID-19 at one point. As of Thursday, 625 inmates had tested positive for COVID-19 and 585 of those had recovered, according to the BOP website.
Inside a strange, awkward day of no fans as the PGA Tour restarts season at Colonial
After a three-month hiatus, professional golf returned to the sports world Thursday and the Colonial Country Club became its epicenter as the largest and deepest field to ever assemble for the Charles Schwab Challenge held the first round of the four-day event that will not be attended by fans.
With the threat of coronavirus and the numbers of cases in Texas now spiking, Colonial had decided weeks ago to close its doors to the general public for the first time in the tournament’s history. An estimated 30,000 might have attended Thursday’s opening round featuring the top-five players in the world, plus other stars such as Phil Mickelson and Jordan Spieth.
“It’s certainly awkward not having everybody out here,” Mickelson said. “But I’m certainly proud of the steps the PGA Tour has taken to have everybody be safe, feel safe in this environment and to hopefully entertain and have some people watching on TV even though they’re not here.”
There were no galleries or crowds. It was a bizarre scene to witness the top three players in the world — Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm and Brooks Koepka — paired together and only a dozen cameras and media members following them. The same can be said for a group featuring Spieth, Justin Thomas and Rickie Fowler.
As Spieth’s group played No. 9, the group teeing off nearby on No. 7 featured 2001 Colonial champ and Masters winner Sergio Garcia. Nobody other than a scorekeeper followed along. Fellow Masters champions Bubba Watson and Zach Johnson were paired together and playing No. 1 with a similar contingent.
Fort Worth museums are ready to reopen
With state and local guidelines limiting capacity to 50% to allow for social distancing, the big three have all announced their plans to reopen soon.
Following the lead from Fort Worth ISD three months ago, all three museums have been closed since March 14 because of COVID-19.
Amon Carter Museum of American Art will reopen to the public first on Friday, June 19, with member-only days from June 16 through June 18. Kimbell Art Museum will reopen on Saturday, June 20, with member-only previews beginning June 18. The Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth reopens on Wednesday, July 1.
And there is more good news. Some particularly great exhibits have been extended.
Originally scheduled to run through June 14 at the Kimbell, “Flesh and Blood: Italian Masterpieces” from the Capodimonte Museum has been extended through July. Opened for just two weeks before the shutdown, this essential show includes Italian Renaissance and Baroque paintings from Caravaggio, Titian, Raphael, El Greco, Annibale Carracci, Artemisia Gentileschi, Jusepe de Ribera, and Luca Giordano.
Originally scheduled to run through August 9 at the Modern, “Mark Bradford: End Papers” has been extended through January 10. A spectacular twenty-year survey of abstract works that are as gorgeous as they are idiosyncratic, this exhibit had only been open a week before the shutdown.
At the Carter, which was temporarily closed last summer for renovations, “The Perilous Texas Adventures of Mark Dion” has been extended from May 17 through July 5. Same goes for “Looking In: Photography from the Outside” and “Eliot Porter’s Birds.”
Fort Worth-area restaurant hosting prom for seniors who had theirs canceled by COVID
Patricia Wozniak just bought the “perfect” prom dress when the coronavirus pandemic changed everything for her, just as she was celebrating her senior year.
One of her worst disappointments was when she found out that the Grapevine High School prom was canceled.
“I asked a guy I know from school, and then it (prom) got canceled,” Wozniak said.
“It was upsetting, I bought everything. Now, what do I do?” she said.
But Wozniak and other high school seniors will get their prom night complete with dinner, dancing, photos and decorations thanks to Jason Benouared who manages La Bistro Italian Grill.
He is closing the restaurant for the weekend so that the students can celebrate a long-standing tradition.
“It seemed like there was a big demand for it. A lot of parents missed their kids having the prom,” he said.
Benouared created an event on Eventbrite, and there are still some tickets left for the dinners on Friday and Saturday nights.
Keller will provide school supplies across the district amid COVID-19 pandemic
The Keller Independent School District announced on Wednesday that it will help students with school supplies for the upcoming school year as families continue to be impacted by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Supplies will be provided for all KISD students from pre-K through 8th grade. Some additional grades could be included, but each school will determine that on a case-by-case basis.
“We recognize that many members of our community are struggling financially as a result of this pandemic,” said KISD superintendent Dr. Rick Westfall. “As the needs were presented we saw it as an opportunity to help take care of our families.”
The cost of the supplies will come from the some of the district’s spring and year-end expenditures that weren’t utilized during the COVID-19 closures.
KISD also said this will help families who may be at a higher health risk stay home rather than in crowded school supply shopping aisles. “As our families prepare for the reopening of schools this fall, we wanted to take the burden of back-to-school crowds and the expense of students’ school supplies off their plates,” said KISD chief of schools Cecil McDaniel. “It is great to be able to give the resources given to us back to the community. I am so proud to be part of the Keller ISD community.”
COVID may mean longer lines at the polls in July. Officials recommend voting early
Inna Dietrich has served as a poll worker at Southlake Town Hall for the past two elections, and would love to do it again. But with the novel coronavirus still spreading and a daughter who has Type 1 diabetes, interacting with hundreds of voters during the upcoming July runoff elections will be too much of a risk.
“Even if I get it and it’s mild, it puts my daughter at greater risk,” Dietrich said. “Unfortunately, due to the dangers with COVID, I don’t think I’ll be able to do it.”
Fewer polling places and the need for election workers to take extra precautions, like disinfecting machines, may cause voters to run into lines and spend more time trying to cast their ballot in-person.
The novel coronavirus’ outbreak has already spurred legal battles over expanding access to mail-in ballots, postponed the primary runoff elections — originally scheduled for May 26 — to July 14 and led to an extension of the early voting period by a week.
Election Day is a little over a month away, and Tarrant County’s Republican and Democratic parties are working to ensure polling places will be staffed and finalizing how both voters and poll workers’ health and safety will be prioritized.
In Tarrant County, Republican voters will vote on a precinct chair and decide between Elizabeth Beach and Brian Walker to serve as a judge on the Second Court of Appeals. Meanwhile, Democrats will decide several races, including whether former Air Force pilot MJ Hegar or state Sen. Royce West will face U.S. Sen John Cornyn in the November general election.