Coronavirus live updates July 22: 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.
Here’s what some FWISD teachers say about the decision to keep students home in Tarrant
Many teachers, parents and community members applauded Tarrant County’s decision to keep students home because of the coronavirus during a Fort Worth school board meeting Tuesday night. But some still had questions about the district’s plan for the school year.
The Tarrant County health department announced Tuesday afternoon that all schools will provide solely online classes for the first six weeks of the 2020-21 school year — until at least Sept. 28 — because of rising cases of coronavirus. The Fort Worth school district sent out a press release shortly after the announcement about virtual learning.
Eight people who spoke on Tuesday evening identified themselves as FWISD teachers. All of them said they supported the decision to postpone in-person classes.
Ernesto Moran, a fourth-grade teacher in Fort Worth, said he was thankful to the Tarrant County health department for “doing its job and following the science in its announcement today.”
“As Sept 28 approaches, if we have not flattened the curve in Tarrant County, I hope the health department and school board have the courage to once again do their jobs and follow the science,” he said.
Fifth-grade teacher Michael Mangrum said he was worried about what will happen when the six weeks of online learning are up. He referenced the number of ventilators currently available in Tarrant County hospitals — 395 — and said he thinks that number will dwindle if 84,000 students return to school.
Larrnecia Razavi, another FWISD teacher, said schools should not reopen in the fall for in-person classes, and learning should remain exclusively online until a vaccine for coronavirus is available. She said teachers are “the most resourceful, creative and innovative people on earth” and can effectively teach online with the support of the district.
Fort Worth, Tarrant County schools will start online only for 6 weeks due to COVID-19
Tarrant County’s top health authorities announced Tuesday that local public and non-religious private schools will only be able to provide online classes for the first six weeks of the 2020-21 school year — until at least Sept. 28 — because of the rising cases of coronavirus.
The announcement affects Fort Worth, Arlington and all local school districts.
The goal is to keep students at home until several weeks after the Sept. 7 Labor Day holiday to avoid a potential spike in cases that could quickly spread through schools. There have been 22,665 positive cases of COVID-19, which includes 304 deaths, in Tarrant County as of Tuesday.
“This is a moment in time like nothing I’ve seen,” Catherine Colquitt, Tarrant County’s public health authority and medical director, said during the Tarrant County Commissioners meeting. “We all feel we have to do something.
“If we don’t make some effort to delay the openings, we might jeopardize our capacity to care for people.”
A joint order calling for online schooling for public and non-religious private schools in Tarrant County was issued Tuesday by Colquitt; Cynthia Simmons, the local health authority and medical director in Arlington; and Steve Martin, the local health authority and medical director in Burleson.
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.
Arlington school board discusses fall plans, online classes
Arlington School Board members said at a meeting Monday night that, with the risks created by the novel coronavirus pandemic, students will begin the school year online. The board discussed the issue for five hours, including time to hear public comments.
Trustee Kecia Mays said the plan could still change based on new data, but Superintendent Marcel Cavazos said that students will not be returning to campus when the school year starts on Aug. 17.
Unlike when classes went online in the spring, students will have not be working at their own pace each week but will be required to virtually attend classes at a scheduled time each day. Trustee Bowie Hogg said online learning this fall will not be anything like what the district had over the spring.
“Spring was a crisis online learning and I commend staff for putting on a program in two weeks,” Hogg said. “While the spring did its job, it was really rigorous and relevant to get our students where they needed to go.”
Courses will not be pass-fail this time, either, and course credit will require 90% attendance. That could include attending a scheduled class or, in some cases, something as simple as submitting assigned work every day.
Fort Worth, Arlington, nearly 100 Texas mayors say more COVID aid needed to avoid cuts
Four months ago Congress passed a $150 billion program to help states and local governments weather the costs of the coronavirus pandemic, and now nearly 100 Texas mayors say it’s time for additional funding.
In a July 15 letter to Texas’ Congressional delegation, mayors across the state, including Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price and Arlington Mayor Jeff Williams, doubled down on their request for direct and flexible assistance to all cities nationwide.
Without such aid, “we will be forced to cut our workforce and reduce services, exacerbating the economic and public health crises created by this pandemic,” read the letter signed by 97 Texas mayors, including Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, Austin Mayor Steve Adler, San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg and Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson.
Federal lawmakers from both parties have said an additional aid package is needed, but will likely clash over the provisions included as discussions get underway.
The request for direct aid is one Texas mayors have been raising since April, when over 110 mayors raised concerns with the population requirements under the $150 billion Coronavirus Relief Fund included in the “CARES Act.”
Cities with populations less than 500,000 aren’t eligible to receive the federal funds directly — meaning only Texas’ six largest cities can do so, while the rest have to request money from Gov. Greg Abbott.
That puts Arlington — Texas’ seventh largest city with a population of nearly 400,000 — in a difficult position.
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.
Tarrant County passes 300 pandemic deaths, reports 663 new COVID-19 cases Tuesday
Tarrant County health officials reported five more coronavirus deaths and 663 new cases on Tuesday.
The county has confirmed a total of 22,665 COVID-19 cases, including 304 deaths and at least 10,894 recoveries.
The latest pandemic-related deaths include four Fort Worth residents — a woman in her 60s, and men in their 50s, 80s and 90s. An Arlington man in his 80s also died. All five had underlying health conditions.
Of the total pandemic-related deaths in the county, 168 have been in Fort Worth and 49 have been in Arlington.
Whites make up 43% of the total deaths, Hispanics 30%, Blacks 23%, Asian/Pacific Islanders 2%, and American Indians 1%. Three deaths were labeled as “other” and the race was not reported in two other cases. About 56% of patients who’ve died have been male. About 67% have been age 65 or older.
As of Monday, 683 — or about 12% — of the county’s hospital beds were occupied by known COVID-19 patients.
Dallas County reports 11 coronavirus deaths, passes 43,000 cases but new patients decline
Dallas County reported 11 deaths and 734 new coronavirus cases on Tuesday.
The 11 deaths include residents in five cities in the county, including Dallas, Irving, Mesquite, Farmers Branch and Balch Springs. The ages include Irving men in their 30s and 50s (both with underlying health conditions). Five of the patients did not have underlying conditions, including a Balch Springs man in his 90s, a Dallas man and woman in their 80s, a Mesquite woman in her 70s, and a Farmers Branch man in his 60s. Four were residents of long-term care facilities.
The county has confirmed 43,026 COVID-19 cases, including 537 deaths. On Tuesday, the county reported fewer than 1,000 new cases for the first time in the past 18 days.
“One day does not make a trend, but this is an encouraging data point,” Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins said in a news release and on social media. “Wearing your mask and avoiding unnecessary trips and exposure to people outside your home is working in Dallas County and North Texas. Please keep doing it.”
More than 1,200 children under 18 have been diagnosed with the coronavirus in the first three weeks of July, including 29 who have been hospitalized, according to health officials. Since June 1, 98 children and staff from 65 different daycare facilities in the county have contracted COVID-19. Three staff members required hospitalization.
Texas coronavirus hospitalizations hit all-time high, 131 deaths reported on Tuesday
Texas hit a new high in coronavirus hospitalizations on Tuesday and reported 131 deaths, the second-most deaths in a day during the pandemic.
Health officials reported 10,848 patients hospitalized with COVID-19, up 190 from the previous high on Saturday.
The single-day high in coronavirus deaths was 174 on Friday, followed by 130 virus-related deaths reported Saturday. The totals dropped to 93 and 62 for Sunday and Monday, when totals have typically been lower because fewer labs report data over the weekend.
There were 1,756 patients hospitalized with the coronavirus on June 1. Three weeks later, hospitalizations had nearly doubled to 3,409. By July 1, there were 6,904 coronavirus hospitalizations. The number increased through the first 12 days of July then held relatively steady in the mid-10,000 range until Tuesday.
Despite the increased hospitalizations, Gov. Greg Abbott has been reticent to declare a second shutdown in Texas. The state began a phased reopening plan on May 1, which allowed businesses to reopen to the public at certain capacity levels and within pandemic safety guidelines.
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.
UIL announces how COVID-19 will alter high school football season, other fall sports
The University Interscholastic League on Tuesday released a two-track plan to have sports resume in the fall even as the coronavirus pandemic is still surging through much of Texas.
Of the UIL’s six conferences, the top two (6A and 5A) would be delayed from starting their seasons as scheduled because, generally, those are the parts of the state where positive COVID-19 are still the highest. Practices would not be able to pick up again until Sept. 7, although some competition would be able to start that day. But football is another story. The earliest games could be played will be Sept. 24, and the delayed start would push the state championships in January.
Meanwhile, the four smallest conferences (4A, 3A, 2A and 1A) would be able to maintain the current schedules and have student athletes return to practice as soon as Aug. 3. All competition would be able to start in mid- to late August, and the state championships would remain unchanged.
“Our goal in releasing this plan is to provide a path forward for Texas students and schools,” said UIL executive director Dr. Charles Breithaupt in a press release. “While understanding situations change and there will likely be interruptions that will require flexibility and patience, we are hopeful this plan allows students to participate in the education-based activities they love in a way that prioritizes safety and mitigates risk of COVID-19 spread.”
Tuesday’s announcement comes less than a week since the state’s top two private school leagues, Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools and Southwest Preparatory Conference, delayed the start of their fall seasons until after Labor Day.
However, those dates do not apply in areas that are seeing spikes in positive COVID-19 cases.
3rd woman dies from COVID-19 at federal prison in Fort Worth as cases continue to rise
A third woman has died from coronavirus at a federal medical prison in Fort Worth where more than 500 women have tested positive.
Teresa Ely, 51, tested positive for COVID-19 on June 30, the Bureau of Prisons said in a press release. She was taken to the hospital for further treatment and put on a ventilator on July 13.
On Monday, Ely died.
FMC Carswell is a medical prison, and the BOP said Ely had long-term, pre-existing medical conditions that put her at risk of developing more serious COVID-19 symptoms.
She was sentenced to 252 months in prison for engaging in a criminal enterprise in Virginia, and had been at FMC Carswell since September 2007.
Ely is the third woman to die at the prison from COVID-19. On April 28, Andrea Circle Bear was the first — and the first woman in the country to die from the virus while in federal custody — and Sandra Kincaid, 69, became the second when she died on July 14.
500 women at Fort Worth federal prison test positive for coronavirus, second most in U.S.
More than 500 women at Fort Worth’s federal medical prison have tested positive for coronavirus, according to the Bureau of Prisons.
On Sunday, the Bureau of Prisons reported 200 women had tested positive for COVID-19 at FMC Carswell. That number jumped to 510 on Tuesday, giving Carswell the second highest number of cases out of all the country’s federal prisons. Only FCI Seagoville, which is also in Dallas-Fort Worth, had more infected inmates, with 1,156 cases as of Tuesday.
“We’re like a whole bunch of hamsters in a cage chasing our own tails,” Holli Chapman, an inmate at Carswell, said.
As of three weeks ago, only three women had tested positive at the prison since the pandemic began. One of those women, Andrea Circle Bear, died in April. On July 12, 69-year-old Sandra Kincaid became the second woman to die at Carswell from the virus. On Monday, Teresa Ely, 51, was the third woman to die.
Most of the 1,357 women at Carswell have medical problems and, since April, many inmates have told the Star-Telegram that they feared what would happen if the virus began to spread through the prison.
Carswell’s administration referred questions to the Bureau of Prisons. In a statement, the BOP said it is monitoring coronavirus at all its prisons, including FMC Carswell, and is taking steps to prevent the spread of the virus.
Woman appears to cough in musician’s face at Dallas-area show amid COVID, video shows
After singer-songwriter Clayton Gardner asked a woman at his concert to respect social distancing, she ignored his concerns, grabbed him by the bandanna and came close to his face, video of the incident shows.
“I have practiced very safe hygiene and socially distanced myself from the start of Covid to protect my 3-year-old daughter,” Gardner wrote in a Facebook post after the incident. “In a matter of seconds this lady took that away from me.”
Gardner shared the video on Facebook and said the woman coughed on him. He was hosting an outdoor show with about 30 attendees Friday night in the Las Colinas area of Irving at the Texican Court, according to his Facebook post. Gardner declined to comment beyond what he wrote on Facebook, and the venue did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
About 15 minutes into his show, the woman walked up to Gardner and requested a song, he wrote. Gardner told the woman she could request a song from 7 feet away, which is considered a safe distance amid the coronavirus pandemic. Instead, the woman got closer.
“Are you for real right now?” Gardner told her. “Please get away from me.”
She then grabbed a bandanna on Gardner’s neck and appeared to cough on him.
In a follow-up post, Gardner said the women later apologized to him, and he forgave her.
Tarrant officials OK contact tracing plan to track down those with COVID — for now
Tarrant County leaders on Tuesday unanimously approved spending $14 million to hire temporary workers to boost local contact tracing, an effort officials have long said can help reduce the spread of coronavirus.
This comes one week after they rejected a similar plan that would have cost more than $20 million, saying they needed more information before they could sign off on spending that much money on this effort.
County staff scaled back their proposal by suggesting they use already existing office space, technology and laptop computers. They also plan to look for volunteers, let some employees work from home and hire staffers gradually, rather than all at one time.
This effort has the potential to help reduce COVID-19 cases locally, officials said.
“The sooner we can ID someone who is a positive case, ... the quicker we can keep them from spreading the virus to someone else,” Tarrant County Judge Glen Whitley said after county commissioners approved the funding for contact tracing.
Texas Faculty Association calls for Abbott to mandate that colleges enforce mask rule
The Texas Faculty Association (TFA) is calling for Gov. Greg Abbott to keep his statewide mask order in effect when college students return to their campuses in the fall, according to a statement sent out on Monday.
Additionally, the association is also calling for Abbott to mandate all Texas colleges to actually enforce the executive order.
Pat Heintzelman, president of the Texas Faculty Association, said in the news release that some college administrators in the state have indicated that they are “reluctant” to enforce the use of masks or face coverings once students return to campus.
“The governor must amend his order to mandate enforcement in classrooms, laboratories, and other public areas on college and university campuses to protect everyone’s health and safety. Health and safety must take precedence over inconvenience and other excuses for not wanting to wear a mask unless one is granted a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act,” Heintzelman said.
In early July, Abbott mandated Texans living in counties with more than 20 coronavirus cases to wear some kind of face covering when inside a public building if social distancing is not possible. The order provides some exceptions.
But several law enforcement officials throughout the state have refused to enforce the mask order, the Texas Tribune reports.
Tarrant County’s mask mandate helped stabilize growth of new COVID cases, expert says
It’s been about three weeks since Tarrant County required face masks be worn in businesses, and a new report found that the mandate helped stabilize the surge in coronavirus cases locally.
The transmission rate of the novel coronavirus, growth of new COVID-19 hospitalizations and ER visits for suspected COVID-19 patients have leveled off and begun to slightly decline in Tarrant County, according to an analysis by Dr. Rajesh Nandy, an associate professor of biostatistics and epidemiology in the University of North Texas Health Science Center’s School of Public Health.
“We cannot really say that we have seen a complete reversal, but we certainly have seen a stabilization,” since the mask mandate went into effect June 26, Nandy said.
Nandy has been studying the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex’s data on hospitalizations, cases and mobility over the course of the pandemic, and while other factors like decreased mobility also likely played a role, Tarrant County’s mask mandate “certainly contributed some.”
And a week after Tarrant County’s local mask order went into effect, Gov. Greg Abbott mandated face coverings be worn in most public places statewide.
The R0, pronounced “R-naught,” is used to estimate the number of new infections transmitted by a single case. If the the R0 is below one, it indicates the virus’ spread is on the decline. In late June, it was as high as 1.35 for Tarrant County, Nandy said. In recent days, the R0 in Tarrant County has hovered just above one.
Texas Rangers open Globe Life Field to three local fans despite MLB ban. Here’s why
The baseball community is a tight-knit one, and that is on display this week at Globe Life Field.
Yes, there will be fans on Opening Day. Three of them.
The Texas Rangers plan to allow the parents and fiance of Colorado Rockies outfielder Sam Hilliard, a Mansfield High School graduate, to attend the season opener. They also attended the exhibition Tuesday against the Rockies and might go Wednesday.
It will be Hillard’s first time on an Opening Day roster.
His father, Jim, has amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig’s disease. Travel to see their son play is difficult, even though Jim and Tamara Hilliard made the trek from their Fort Worth home to Denver last season to see his MLB debut.
This trek will be piece of cake, and the Rangers were glad to accommodate the Hilliards.