Coronavirus live updates July 10: 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.
In a Texas first, Tarrant County dog infected with virus that causes COVID-19
A Tarrant County dog has been confirmed to be infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 in humans, a state agency said Thursday.
A veterinarian decided to test the dog for SARS-CoV-2 as a precautionary measure after its owners were confirmed to have COVID-19, the Texas Animal Health Commission said Thursday.
The veterinarian reported that the 2-year-old dog was healthy Thursday.
The confirmation came on Tuesday from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Veterinary clinic staff reported wearing personal protective equipment including face masks when in contact with the owner and handling the dog to limit any potential spread of the virus.
“Based on current knowledge, there is no evidence that pets play a significant role in spreading SARS-CoV-2 to people,” State Veterinarian Andy Schwartz wrote in a statement. “It’s always important to restrict contact with your pets and other animals, just like you would other people, if you are infected with COVID-19 in order to protect them from infection.”
Investigation under way at Lake Worth Nursing Home after residents with COVID evacuated
State health workers are investigating the Lake Worth Nursing Home, where residents continue to be evacuated after a number of them tested positive for coronavirus, a spokesperson said Thursday.
The residents were taken to other facilities in Tarrant County.
“Protecting the health, safety and well-being of the people residing in the facilities we regulate is our top priority,” according to a statement from Kelli Weldon, a spokesperson for the Texas Health and Human Services Commission. “Within an hour of being notified about this facility’s status, HHSC had a surveyor team on site to actively investigate this facility’s compliance with all relevant health and safety rules.
“Our team remains on site and is working with local long-term care ombudsman staff to monitor the transfer of residents to other facilities that can fully meet their needs. We have identified alternative placements for all residents and hope to safely transfer all of them out of the facility today.”
Weldon did not immediately respond to an email seeking answers to a list followup questions.
On Wednesday, MedStar began relocating 63 people from the Lake Worth Nursing Home in the 4200 block of Wells Drive at the request of the state, Matt Zavadsky, the ambulance service’s spokesman, has 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.
Tarrant County reports 520 new coronavirus cases, 5 more deaths Thursday
Tarrant County officials reported an additional 520 coronavirus cases and five deaths on Thursday, continuing a recent surge in cases across the county.
There have been 16,700 cases and 259 deaths since the outbreak began, according to data from the county public health department. At least 7,490 people have recovered from the virus.
Four of the five people whose deaths were announced on Thursday were from Fort Worth, including a woman in her 60s, a man in his 70s, a woman in her 50s and a man in his 40s. A man in his 50s from Arlington also died of the virus.
All had underlying health conditions, officials said.
The 520 cases announced on Thursday follows 595 new cases on Wednesday and 757 new cases on Tuesday, which marked a single-day record.
There are 580 confirmed COVID-19-occupied beds in Tarrant County hospitals, according to the health department data. There are 1,710 available hospital beds and 395 available ventilators as of Thursday.
Dallas County reports more than 1,000 new COVID cases for 7th straight day, 10 deaths
Dallas County reported 1,201 new COVID-19 cases and 10 deaths on Thursday, marking the seventh day in a row when the county has reported more than 1,000 new cases.
The county now has had a total of 30,361 cases and 436 deaths, according to the Dallas County press release. Half of new cases reported since June 1 are being diagnosed in young adults between 18 to 39 years old. Many of these cases have been connected to large gatherings, which includes house parties.
The new deaths were of a man in his 90s, two men in their 70s, two women in their 70s, two men in their 60, two women in their 60s and a man in his 40s, according to the release. All had underlying health conditions.
Of the 436 total deaths, about a third are associated with long-term care facilities.
The county continues to see record-high numbers in coronavirus hospitalizations, the release says. As of Thursday, there are 831 COVID-19 patients in county hospitals and the number of emergency room visits for COVID-19 like symptoms increased to 824 in the last 24 hours. This represents over 36% of all emergency visits.
County Judge Clay Jenkins described the county’s coronavirus situation as “rampant community spread.”
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.
Texas reports new single-day record of 105 COVID-19 deaths, over 9,000 new cases
As Texas struggles to contain the spread of COVID-19, the state reported a record high in deaths related to the virus and hospitalizations continued to rise Thursday.
The state reported 9,782 new cases and 105 deaths, setting a new single-day record, according to Texas Department of State Health Services data. The most cases the state has had in a single day is 10,028, which was reported Tuesday. The state’s seven-day average testing positivity rate is at 15.56%.
Hospitalizations rose to 9,689, a new high, according to state data. COVID-19 patients occupy about 17% of all available beds. Experts have attributed the surge in hospitalizations in part to gatherings and holiday weekends.
On Wednesday, the Texas Tribune reported that Texas’ new cases of the coronavirus make up around 14% of the U.S. total. Since July 1, the U.S. has reported 358,027 new infections. Of those, 50,599 were in Texas.
Now, Texas has reported a total of more than 200,000 cases and 2,000 deaths, according to the state data. It’s estimated that over 100,000 people have recovered.
Gov. Greg Abbott told KRIV-TV in Houston on Thursday night that, cast doubt on whether high school football would be able to be played this fall
As COVID surges, Abbott extends ban on elective surgeries to over 100 Texas counties
Gov. Greg Abbott extended his ban on elective medical procedures to over a 100 more counties Thursday as the state sees an all-time high in the number of patients hospitalized with the novel coronavirus.
To ensure hospitals have sufficient capacity to treat a surge in COVID-19 patients, Abbott issued a proclamation requiring hospitals throughout West, Central and South Texas to postpone surgeries and procedures that aren’t medically necessary to correct a serious medical condition or to preserve the life of a patient. The extended ban goes into effect at 11:59 p.m. Friday. Procedures that would not deplete hospital capacity needed for COVID-19 patients are exempt.
Abbott listed counties by trauma service area — 22 regions across the state that are overseen by regional advisory councils that develop plans and processes for trauma care. Trauma Service Area E, which includes Tarrant County, was not listed on Thursday’s proclamation.
Among the counties added Thursday, the ones closest to the Dallas Fort-Worth area include Hills, Bosque, Limestone, McLennan and Falls.
Two weeks ago, Abbott announced he was suspending elective surgeries for the second time over the course of the pandemic — but initially only in four of Texas’ largest counties: Bexar, Dallas, Harris and Travis. Less than a week later, he expanded the ban to the counties of Cameron, Hidalgo, Nueces and Webb in the Rio Grande Valley.
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: Is Dallas-Fort Worth headed for another COVID-19 shutdown? Keep an eye on hospitals
Day after day, the coronavirus case numbers roll in, and they are staggering. More illness, more deaths, more hospitalizations.
It’s been just a week since Gov. Greg Abbott, apparently alarmed by the increasing share of hospital resources taken up by COVID-19, ordered the wearing of face masks, a step he’d been reluctant to take. The next threshold appears to be: Are we headed to another shutdown?
We hope not. Texans would suffer greatly if the economy craters further, and we have real doubts about how much of the population would comply with another stay-at-home order.
Many local officials are asking for the power to judge the well-being of their cities and counties and, in consultation with public health experts, decide what should be open. They make a decent argument.
We’d like to see greater regional cooperation and decision-making. Tarrant, Dallas and Collin counties have vastly different approaches to the virus (not to mention smaller counties such as Parker and Hood). It’d be much better if local leaders come together to evaluate the situation and act as if the highways that connect us carry health concerns. Because they do.
Employee files complaint alleging COVID-19 safety flaws at Fort Worth Walmart center
A Walmart employee filed a complaint with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration on Thursday against a Walmart distribution center in northeast Fort Worth where almost 60 employees have tested positive for COVID-19, according to the complaint.
The company has not closed down to clean the facility, according to a news release from United for Respect. United for Respect is an organization of retail workers nationwide that is seeking higher pay and better working conditions for employees.
The current Walmart employee, who is not identified by name, said in the OSHA complaint, “The distribution center has 58 confirmed positive COVID-19 cases, which was disclosed by management.” An additional five employees at the center are “presumed positive,” according to the complaint obtained by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram on Thursday.
“Social distancing has not been enforced at 6 feet, (and) the number of positive cases continue to rise,” the complaint stated.
The Walmart center is at 5300 Westport Parkway in northeast Fort Worth.
“While we are not going to comment on the specifics of any particular complaint, the controls and practices we have in place are consistent with CDC and OSHA COVID-19 preparedness guidance,” said Robyn Babbitt, a Walmart spokeswoman, in a Thursday email.
High school football doubtful in the fall, according to Dallas schools superintendent
The Dallas schools superintendent has cast doubt on whether high school football would be able to be played this fall in a televised interview with MSNBC on Thursday.
“That’s a true contact sport, I don’t see how we can pull that off,” Dallas ISD superintendent Michael Hinojosa said to MSNBC correspondent Garrett Haake. “There’s been some discussion of moving it to the spring, but we’ll have to wait and see. I don’t, I seriously doubt that we can pull that off.”
The coronavirus pandemic claimed some winter championships and the spring season on March 13. It also meant no spring football and 7-on-7 state tournament. School campuses have also been closed since March, although schools are supposed to reopen next month.
Hinojosa also told Haake that the start date for Dallas ISD schools could be pushed back from Aug. 17 into September. “Initially that was a backup plan that I had, but now that backup plan is becoming more of a reality.”