Coronavirus live updates Aug. 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 downward trend in COVID data, but West Nile on the rise
As schools in Tarrant County prepare to open, key coronavirus data continue to trend downward.
Vinny Taneja, the county’s public health director, told county commissioners on Tuesday that COVID-19 hospitalization percentage, cases per week and the seven-day positivity rate are trending down. The county has reported more 30,000 coronavirus cases and more 400 COVID-19 deaths.
The percentage of hospital patients with COVID has fallen from 20% about a month ago to 13%, Taneja said.
He said the numbers are dropping because people are “religiously” wearing masks and following safety guidelines such as maintaining social distance and staying home as much as possible.
“We’re doing good things in Tarrant County and as a community, we need to continue to do those things,” he said.
But Taneja warned that the county is still not out of the woods. The number of weekly cases combined with a seven-day positivity rate of 11% puts the county in the “red zone,” according to White House criteria, he said.
High school sporting events return after coronavirus hiatus, with several new rules
After five months without an official high school sporting event due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, Tuesday marked the return of play for several local volleyball teams.
Statewide, play was allowed to begin Monday for Class 4A and below, and at least 10 matches were played around the state, according to MaxPreps. But the majority of Texas teams began their seasons on Tuesday, including Argyle and Lake Worth who headed to Weatherford for a triple-header at Peaster High School.
Safety restrictions due to COVID-19 made the event anything other than your typical season opener.
Coaches, players and spectators wore masks. Bleachers were marked off to help families keep their distance from other groups. Hand sanitizers were placed at the end of each team’s bench.
Deena Tucker has three children in high school, including a freshman on Argyle’s junior varsity volleyball team. “Bleachers had lines across them so the school did a good job trying to keep people separated,” Tucker said. “We’re willing to do whatever it takes to get our kids on the court and field. This mask is no big deal. I can still come and sit and support, and I can still yell through this mask. They can still hear me.”
All high schools sports were abruptly canceled on March 13, during the middle of the boys state basketball state championship tournament in San Antonio. This was less than 48 hours after an NBA player had tested positive for COVID-19, which resulted in a domino effect of suspensions and cancellations across the sports landscape.
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 5 coronavirus deaths Tuesday, fewest new cases in 5 days
Tarrant County reported 204 new coronavirus cases and five more deaths on Tuesday.
Tuesday’s 204 new cases are the third fewest new cases in the county since July 1, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services. According to the state dashboard, 65 cases on Aug. 6 was the last time fewer new cases were reported in Tarrant County.
The latest deaths include an Arlington man in his 80s and four Fort Worth residents, including men in their 60s and 70s, and two women in their 80s. All five had underlying health conditions, according to officials.
Tarrant County has reported a total of 34,369 COVID-19 cases, including 427 deaths and an estimated 23,615 recoveries.
Of the county’s total reported cases, 32,666 are confirmed and 1,703 are probable, according to the Tarrant County website.
Dallas County’s COVID cases still dropping, but latest death total a ‘somber’ reminder
Dallas County reported 30 coronavirus deaths and 298 new confirmed cases on Tuesday.
Two Dallas men in their 30s and two in their 40s were among the 30 latest deaths. One of the men in his 30s did not have underlying health conditions. Overall, six of the latest deaths were people who didn’t have underlying health conditions.
Of the 30 reported deaths, 29 are listed as confirmed COVID-19 deaths and one is listed as probable. Four were residents of long-term care facilities.
“Today’s numbers carry with it a somber reminder of the dangerousness of COVID-19 as we announce the deaths of 29 more confirmed COVID-19 cases and one probable COVID-19 death,” Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins said in a news release.
Among the latest deaths, there were 19 in Dallas, two each in Garland, Mesquite, and Richardson, and one each in Carrollton, Cedar Hill, DeSoto, Lancaster and Wilmer.
The latest COVID deaths include two each in their 30s and 40s, four in their 50s, six in their 60s, six in their 70s, eight in their 80s, one Richardson woman in her 90s (who did not have underlying conditions) and a Dallas woman in her 100s.
Dallas County has confirmed a total of 55,553 COVID-19 cases, including 785 deaths. County officials do not release recovery totals.
In addition, the county is reporting 30 new probable cases and the one new probable COVID-related death for a total of 2,272 probable cases and seven probable deaths from COVID-19.
The county recently began including a count of probable cases as part of state reporting guidelines.
Worried about small businesses, Fort Worth cuts COVID housing plan to $10 million
The city will contract with Fort Worth Housing Solutions to convert hotels into 100 supportive housing units using about $9.3 million in federal coronavirus relief, cutting the original plan in half based on concerns the city has not used enough of its CARES Act allocation to boost small businesses.
City staff in the homeless outreach division, Directions Home, had identified $18.6 million from the city’s $158 million aid package to use for buying up to three hotels to convert into apartments for those facing chronic homelessness who may be more susceptible to the coronavirus because of medical conditions or age.
Most council members during Tuesday’s work session voiced nervousness that the full amount could not be spent before a December deadline set by Congress. There was also a prevailing feeling the city should devote more money to small business assistance. The city has already set aside $15 million for small business grants and more than $7 million for a separate housing assistance program. A little more than $6 million has been allocated to businesses, Assistant City Manager Fernando Costa said, and less than $1 million has gone out in housing help.
Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price said helping small businesses was paramount. Helping businesses stay open or reopen would put people to work and boost the economy.
“Heaven help us we need permanent supportive housing for our homeless population, we really do,” Price said. “But we have so many families, and so many businesses hurting with COVID right now.”
Price said it would be unfair to compare the number of small businesses helped with the long-term benefits of supportive housing. Those businesses represented thousands of jobs and families, she said.
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.
Faced with recession, Fort Worth hopes to maintain services with $2 billion budget
The nearly $2 billion Fort Worth operating budget for 2021 allows the city to continue programs to improve city services while preparing the city for slimmer budgets in years to come, City Manager David Cooke said, arguing the city should spend now rather than risk falling behind if the recession eats into revenue.
The proposed $1.77 billion budget grew by $8.3 million from last year, because of increased property valuations. Cooke is proposing the same 74.75 cents property tax rate and no increases to most user fees. The owner of a home valued at $250,000 with a homestead exemption would pay $1,495 in city property taxes. He is proposing hikes to solid waste fees and more than 100 positions may be eliminated from city offices.
There will be several opportunities for the public to weigh in on the budget before the council’s Sept. 22 vote.
Cooke told the Star-Telegram ahead of a presentation to the City Council that his hope is to maintain city services while still paying for several new endeavors, including the Golden Triangle Library, which opens Aug. 18, and a far north Fort Worth animal shelter. Based on trends seen during the Great Recession that started in 2007, Cooke projects the city’s tax base may shrink by 4% of over the next two years.
“Most people would still agree we’re not spending enough on the maintenance of the infrastructure that we’ve already built,” Cooke said. “It is so hard to get back. Once you get away from best practices you’ve got to wait for the next upturn just to get back to where you should have been in the first place.”
Tired of waiting in line for laptops in Mansfield school district? This plan should help
The waiting in the Mansfield school district might be over.
And, it couldn’t come at a better time because school starts Wednesday.
For days, parents and families in the Mansfield school district had to wait in long lines at schools to receive laptops, with one parent telling WFAA-TV she had been waiting for more than 10 hours.
But under a new plan, Mansfield school officials said the devices will be delivered to the home address of students after parents complete a form.
“We have been continually reviewing and revising our process with the ultimate goal of getting a device to any student who needs one in a safe, efficient manner,” said Mansfield Superintendent Dr. Kimberley Cantu in a Tuesday night news release.
Cantu said 15,000 devices had been picked up as of Tuesday night for online learning amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Keller teachers quarantine after COVID exposure at meeting about going back to school
One of 40 speakers at a Keller Independent School District meeting on Aug. 3 tested positive for COVID-19, possibly exposing parents and teachers, the school district said.
An unknown number of teachers who attended the meeting were asked to quarantine until Aug. 18 because of the exposure, said a teacher who spoke at the meeting and asked to remain anonymous out of fear of repercussions. The teacher told the Star-Telegram only those who took the podium after the infected person were asked to quarantine.
A district spokeswoman said that Keller ISD immediately implemented its contact tracing and cleaning protocols when officials were informed of the positive case.
On Aug. 3, the school board and community members discussed whether kids should go back to classrooms or learn virtually for the start of the school year. The school board required people to attend the meeting in person in order to speak.
Many speakers took off their masks while addressing the board, and the podium and mic were not sanitized in between speakers.
Parents, teachers and community members each had three minutes to address the board about whether they thought it was safe or not for everyone to return to in-person learning given the growing cases of COVID-19 in Texas and Tarrant County.
How Arlington hopes to promote social equity as COVID-19 affects property tax revenue
Arlington leaders are not waiting for the city Unity Council’s findings to set aside funds and resources to promote social equity.
As city council members and City Manager Trey Yelverton discussed ways to support services in anticipation of falling tax revenues, they also considered cost-cutting measures for residents who’ve consistently paid their water bills on time or need police towing assistance after an accident.
Among the proposed changes for the Fiscal 2021 budget include eliminating a $20 fee charged when people ask Arlington Police to call or direct towing services.
“The goal here was to really disassociate police from that revenue expense,” Yelverton said.
Councilman Marvin Sutton, who represents District 3, said eliminating the fee may go a long way for people in lower-income areas.
“Sometimes it really hurts and it takes away from the income of our citizens who are in an under-served community,” he said.
Hood County reports 11th COVID-19 death; officials clear 3 school districts to reopen
Hood County has confirmed 35 new coronavirus cases the past week for a total of 592.
Active COVID-19 hospitalizations and quarantines have decreased from 82 to 23 since the last county report on Aug. 4. Six patients are currently hospitalized.
The county is reporting a 9.5% positive test rate.
Hood County reported an additional COVID-19 death for a total of 11. Nine of the 11 deaths were directly complicated or caused by COVID-19-related illness, and the other two people had tested positive for coronavirus at the time of their deaths, according to Hood County Public Health. Nine of the 11 patients were 60 or older.
The county reports lab results are pending for 34 local nasal swab tests.
School reopening plans for Granbury, Tolar and Lipan ISDs have been approved by Dr. David Blocker, the Hood County Public Health director and City of Granbury medical adviser.
“They are all in compliance with Texas Educational Agency Public Health guidance for reopening,” Dr. Blocker said in a news release. “We will monitor closely and support as needed for any issues, including classroom, sports, and UIL activities.”