Coronavirus live updates July 2: 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.
Fort Worth bar plans to defy Texas’ ‘unjust shutdown’ order despite coronavirus surge
A Fort Worth bar and live-music venue plans to reopen and host a Fourth of July party to protest the “unjust shutdown” of bars due to coronavirus’ resurgence in Texas.
The party, entitled “Rail Club Tea Party” on Facebook, invites people to “enjoy live music and to defy this unjust shutdown that is destroying the lives of our industry.” It is set to take place at the Rail Club Live at 3101 Joyce Drive near Ridglea Hills from 6 p.m. to midnight on Saturday.
“It is time to stand in solidarity with one another, it is time to end this emotional and financial roller coaster,” owner Chris Polone wrote in a Rail Club statement on June 28. “We will either succeed or we will become martyrs... This is The Rail Club way... It’s time to run head on into the fire...”
Polone spoke with the Star-Telegram via phone on Wednesday from Las Vegas, where he is celebrating his 28th birthday — which is also on the day of the party.
“We’re not trying to upset anybody or get anyone sick or spit on Greg Abbott,” Polone said. “But our back’s against the wall. It’s more for survival purposes than anything.”
Tarrant County code compliance issued a notice to Rail Club Bar on June 29 saying that they should stay closed, code compliance director Brandon Bennett said. They also notified the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission of the bar’s plans.
If the bar opens, “the TABC and Fort Worth police will be notified and additional enforcement measures will be taken,” the notice said.
Fort Worth voter raises concerns about polling place safety as COVID-19 cases spike
Surprise struck Mariza Olmos when she walked into the Northside Community Center Wednesday to cast her early ballot.
With COVID-19 cases spiking, Olmos expected a large venue for voters and poll workers to spread out, she told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. She was greeted instead with a “large supply closet” worth of space, she said, where there was not enough room to properly social distance.
“If one more person walked in here, I’m going to feel claustrophobic,” Olmos said of the space, which included four poll workers and her husband. “It was that close.”
Olmos posted about her concerns on Facebook, calling it “the Worst voting experience I have had,” and criticizing officials for not keeping voters safe. The space was so close she could easily touch any person and might have been able to see her husband’s ballot.
Tarrant County reported a single-day record for new coronavirus cases for the second consecutive day on Wednesday with 606 fresh positive cases.
Heider Garcia, Tarrant County’s election administrator, said he was aware of concerns at the Northside Community Center, one of the county’s smallest spaces.
He said he understood worries about social distancing in polling places, but with the short ballot — a primary runoff and the city of Fort Worth election for the police department’s special sales tax — Garcia said voting should be quick. Poll workers reported voters moved in and out of polling places within five minutes in most cases, he said.
Estimated active cases over time
Coronavirus daily active case estimates by local counties in the Dallas - Fort Worth metroplex, beginning April 8, 2020. Data provided by Texas Health and Human Services.
Texas adds more than 8,000 new COVID cases and sees record hospitalizations Wednesday
New cases of the novel coronavirus rocketed past the 8,000 threshold Wednesday in Texas, and hospitalizations reached an all-time high.
According to the Texas Department of State Health Services, the state reported 8,076 new cases Wednesday — a jump of 1,101 cases from the previous record of 6,975 cases Tuesday. It’s the largest single-day high in Texas since the start of the pandemic, and the first time new cases have surpassed both the 7,000 and 8,000 benchmarks.
Hospitalizations of COVID-19 patients rose to 6,904 Wednesday, an increase of 371 from Tuesday’s previous high of 6,533.
The state also reported 57 more deaths — the second highest number since the start of the pandemic — bringing Texas’ total COVID-19 related deaths to at least 2,481.
Tarrant County reports record number of new coronavirus cases Wednesday, 3 more deaths
Tarrant County reported a single-day record for new coronavirus cases and three deaths for the second consecutive day on Wednesday.
The county reported 606 new cases and deaths of a Mansfield man in his 60s and Fort Worth women in their 50s and 60s. Each had underlying health conditions. Heath officials reported 602 new cases on Tuesday.
Tarrant County has confirmed 12,950 total COVID-19 cases, including 231 deaths and at least 5,323 recoveries.
Of the 231 pandemic-related deaths in the county, 129 have been in Fort Worth, 34 in Arlington, 17 in Keller, eight in Mansfield, seven in Benbrook, five in Grapevine, four in Bedford and Hurst, three in Haltom City, unincorporated Tarrant County and White Settlement, two each in Azle and Forest Hill, and one each in Crowley, Grand Prairie, Kennedale, Lakeside, North Richland Hills, River Oaks, Saginaw, Sansom Park, Southlake, and Watauga.
COVID-19 Hospitalizations over Time
Coronavirus daily hospitalization counts in Texas and the larger Trauma Service Areas, beginning April 8, 2020. Data provided by Texas Health and Human Services.
Dallas woman in 20s with no health issues among COVID deaths and is ‘somber reminder’
Dallas County reported more than 500 new coronavirus cases for the fifth consecutive day and seven more deaths on Wednesday.
The county reported 544 new cases, a day after a pandemic-high 601 on Tuesday. The county has reported 300 or more cases each day since June 10.
Dallas County has confirmed 21,882 COVID-19 cases, including 380 deaths.
The latest deaths include a Dallas woman in her 20s who did not have underlying health conditions. She had been critically ill in an area hospital. A Dallas man in his 50s who had been hospitalized also did not have underlying conditions.
Others included Dallas women in their 40s, 60s and 80s. The woman in her 60s was found dead at home.
A DeSoto man in his 60s and a Seagoville man in his 70s also died after being critically ill in area hospitals.
Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins called the deaths of the two Dallas residents with no underlying health conditions “a somber reminder of the dangerous nature of COVID-19 on everyone.”
Jenkins urged residents to adhere to social distancing and face covering guidelines with the Fourth of July scheduled for Saturday.
“We cannot afford another deviation from making good decisions like we saw during Easter/Passover and Memorial Day given the surge in cases we are now seeing,” Jenkins said in a release an on social media. “It was nearly two months from the time I declared a state of emergency and instituted ‘Safer at Home,’ until the daily case numbers began to go down.”
Woman spits on Fort Worth store counter after being told she needs a mask to buy beer
A woman yelled at a 7-Eleven cashier and spit on the counter on Monday after the worker refused to ring up her items because she was not wearing a mask, a video of the exchange shows.
In the video, which was posted on Facebook, a woman stands in front of the gas station counter, where a cashier talks with her behind a plastic partition. A case of Miller Lite beer and two boxes of Milk Duds sit on the counter.
The cashier appears to be telling the woman she cannot buy the beer and candy because she is not wearing a mask. In Tarrant County, customers are required to wear masks inside of businesses to prevent the spread of coronavirus. Businesses are in violation of the order if they do not require customers to do so.
The gas station, which is located at 8421 Boat Club Road in Fort Worth, also has a policy recommending patrons wear a face covering, an employee at the 7-Eleven confirmed.
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.
Editorial: Raise a glass — Texas drinks-to-go rules make a bit more sense, thanks to this change
We could all use some good news. Especially if it coincides with common sense.
And for it to come from the byzantine world of Texas’ alcohol regulations makes it all the more enjoyable.
Soon after Gov. Greg Abbott ordered bars to close again in hopes of stemming the resurgent coronavirus, the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission relented on letting restaurants sell mixed drinks to go. Before, the state required a shell game in which the establishment could provide a mixer and a travel-size bottle and let the customer finish the job at home.
The new arrangement is much better. It allows for a wider range of drinks, lets adults make their own choices and will restore a key profit point for many restaurants. And like many other changes undertaken as we adapt to the pandemic, it might point the way to more sensible laws and regulations for the Legislature to consider next year.
Under the alcoholic beverage commission’s new rules, restaurants already permitted to sell mixed drinks can package them with any food order, including those delivered by third-party services. They must be sealed and, essentially, carried in the trunk. There’s no limit to how much can be ordered. Beer and wine can be sold to-go, too, as long as they’re sealed in their original packages.
‘Bar Lives Matter.’ Texas bar owners protest state closing businesses due to COVID-19
Texas bar owners are using the slogan “Bar Lives Matter” in protests against the governor closing their businesses as COVID-19 cases surge in the state.
Arguing they’re unfairly targeted, the establishments demonstrating against Gov. Greg Abbott’s shutdown order have taken up the variation of Black Lives Matter, the organization protesting police violence against African Americans.
Abbott ordered the closure of bars last week as coronavirus cases surged to record-breaking levels in the state. The mandate also reduced restaurant capacity to 50%.
On Sunday, Tee Allen Parker, the owner of a bar in Kilgore, Texas, hosted “Bar Lives Matter,” an event outside her establishment protesting Abbott’s order, the Houston Chronicle reported. She’s among a group of bar owners who’ve filed a lawsuit against the order, according to the newspaper.
The lawsuit was filed by Jared Woodfill, the former chairman of the Harris County GOP, who’s sued the state and county six times over coronavirus restrictions, The Washington Post reported.
“Clearly, bar owners have less interaction, proximity or frequency with patrons than beauticians, or cosmetologists, or tattoo artists,” the lawsuit says.
Parker County now requiring face masks after updated coronavirus data shows case spike
Parker County officials are requiring face coverings for residents in public spaces where social distancing is not possible and there is an estimated 100 or more people.
The order, signed by Parker County Judge Pat Deen, went into effect at 6 p.m. Wednesday and is good through 6 p.m. July 8.
The order is similar to one passed in Johnson County last week. Deen said last week that he would not enforce face masks and would allow restaurants to remain at 75% capacity despite Gov. Greg Abbott’s order limiting restaurants to 50% capacity beginning Monday to help slow the spread of the coronavirus.
Deen said he wanted to wait until Parker County had updated case levels from state health officials. Daily case updates had ceased the previous week while irregularities in the data were corrected.
The county reported an estimated 179 active COVID-19 cases on Tuesday. That number is based on an algorithm by state health officials and is much higher than the last number released by Parker County. Texas Department of State Health Services data show there have been at least 286 cases in the county as of Tuesday.
Fort Worth suburb shuts down aquatic program for the summer after COVID cases surge
Saginaw city officials were looking forward to helping residents enjoy cooling off on water slides or in a leisure pool, but the surge in coronavirus cases led to canceling the summer fun.
The city announced in a news release Wednesday that the aquatic center was not opening for the season.
City manager Gabe Reaume said in an interview that Saginaw delayed the opening because the stay-at-home order, issued earlier this spring, impacted classes to certify lifeguards.
The aquatic center was scheduled to open Friday.
“With the increasing cases in the county, we decided it was best not to open for the season. It’s disappointing, but it’s for the best,” he said.
UIL recommending schools suspend summer workouts in anticipation of July 4th weekend
In anticipation of increased social interactions during the 4th of July holiday, the University Interscholastic League recommended on Wednesday that Texas high schools should suspend summer strength and conditioning and skill workouts from July 3-12 to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
“For schools in areas experiencing community spread of COVID-19, this temporary suspension will reduce risk of exposure and provide an opportunity to review current plans and re-evaluate local context in order to make informed decisions moving forward,” the UIL said in a statement.
“UIL will continue to work with state officials and monitor CDC and other federal guidance to determine any potential modifications to UIL summer guidelines.”
Editorial: COVID-19 loves a crowd. Help prevent a new shutdown order by skipping the fireworks
If it seems like the nightmare of the coronavirus pandemic is playing on repeat, you’re not imagining things: Leaders of Texas’ biggest counties are asking Gov. Greg Abbott to let them impose local stay-at-home orders.
But it’s not up to them, or even really to Abbott, if we have to close down again. It’s up to all of us. It’s up to you.
You know about wearing a mask, washing hands and maintaining distance from others. The next step is a sacrifice, especially for July Fourth weekend: avoiding large gatherings.
The evidence is mounting that big parties, crowded bars and family gatherings are prime events for COVID-19 to spread. Anywhere that more than 10 or so people congregate, risk increases. Abbott retreated and closed bars once it was clear that proprietors and patrons, even if well-meaning, couldn’t follow rules on capacity and distancing.
Leaders must rethink several other events, too. Texas Republicans have stubbornly insisted that their party convention in mid-July in Houston would go forward, masks optional. It took a plea from the Texas Medical Association, the huge physician group who is one of the gathering’s sponsors, for party leaders to reconsider.
With COVID-19 cases still increasing, here’s how to celebrate the Fourth of July safely
With July Fourth around the corner and fewer restrictions on gatherings, those planning to attend festivities and parties should know how to do it safely amid the coronavirus pandemic.
In Texas, COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations continue to rise. On Thursday, the state reported a new single-day high with 5,996 new COVID-19 cases. Hospitalizations have risen nearly every day of June and have more than tripled since the 1,511 patients hospitalized on Memorial Day.
At a June 22 press conference on COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers said they tracked a surge in hospitalization after holiday weekends like Easter and Memorial Day. Now, they have concerns that the 4th of July weekend could cause an increase.
“Major holidays really affected the curve quite significantly,” Dr. Mujeeb Basit, an assistant professor of internal medicine and cardiology at UT Southwestern, said on June 22. “But with July 4, that is really an unknown. July 4 is barbecue season, everybody is out grilling, everybody’s out socializing, you could have a significant increase.”
Marilyn Felkner, a clinical assistant professor at the University of Texas at Austin’s public health program, said an upside to the 4th of July is that most activities that will take place are outdoors.
But, with any gathering of people, there’s always a risk, she said.
Here are some tips to reduce the risk of COVID-19 while having a good time.
Wear a face covering at an event or in a public setting.
Social distance.
Host outdoor activities instead of indoors. Limit the time you spend inside with others.
The fewer people involved, the better.
Use hand sanitizer and disinfectants.
This story was originally published July 2, 2020 at 5:00 AM.