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’s American Airlines unveils how deep its job cuts are - 40,000 workers

At least 40,000 American Airlines workers — about 30% of the Fort Worth-based company’s work force — will have lost their jobs by Oct. 1 because of the pandemic, airline officials say.

American Airlines officials on Tuesday unveiled details of the job losses, which are spelled out in an 8-K form filed by the company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The 8-K form is required of publicly traded companies to notify shareholders of major changes.

Flight attendants were among the hardest hit. Of 27,000 flight attendants, 8,100 will be on furlough and 4,500 will be on voluntary leave, officials said. Another 2,700 took a voluntary early out package during the summer.

Of 15,000 pilots, 1,600 will be placed on furlough and 700 will be on voluntary leave. About 1,200 took a voluntary early out package in the summer.

American Airlines will test first EPA-approved virus-killing spray on Texas flights

American Airlines will be the first airline to use a “long-lasting” spraying solution capable of killing 99.9% of viruses and bacteria, including coronaviruses, in the coming months. It is the first antiviral to be approved by the Environmental Protection Agency.

The product, coined SurfaceWise2, works by layering high-touch surfaces such as tray tables and seat buckles with a nontoxic coating that inactivates pathogens within two hours of application, and it continues to protect against them for up to a week, according to the biotechnology company behind its development, Allied BioScience.

The EPA’s “emergency exemption” is solely for Texas-based customers — as of now — and extends to two Total Orthopedics Sports & Spine clinics in the state, Allied BioScience said in a statement. The company is also pursuing the emergency waiver in all 50 states.

And in the coming months, the company will submit a “non-emergency approval” for the disinfectant by submitting additional data on its efficacy in killing germs “to meet EPA’s registration requirements as an antiviral surface coating,” the EPA announced.

If the registration is approved and completed, the public will be able to purchase the product at some point. Its creators say they hope the disinfectant will help customers feel more safe while flying; they also envision offices, schools, gyms and other “high-traffic areas” using the spray in their fight against the pandemic.

How do you host the Alliance Air Show during a pandemic? Make it a drive-in, of course

This year’s 30th anniversary celebration of the Bell Fort Worth Alliance Air Show promises to be memorable, and not just because the Air Force Thunderbirds are scheduled to perform.

The air show is scheduled for Oct. 17-18 at Alliance Airport in far north Fort Worth. This year’s festivities will be held drive-in-style, with attendees offered a chance to watch the performers from their cars.

“Our newly reformatted event will be a memorable, fun and socially distanced drive-in experience as we celebrate 30 years of soaring excellence,” Christina Carey, director of special projects for Alliance Air Productions, said in an email. “The circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic provided the unique opportunity to be innovative in how to move forward with hosting the air show for the North Texas community.”

A limited number of parking tickets will be available online for purchase on a first-come, first-served basis, officials said. The tickets will be sold beginning in mid-September at AllianceAirShow.com, but will not be available for walk-ups.

The plan includes using the airport’s vast grassy parking areas surrounding the airfield to spread people out. Vehicles will be parked with social distancing in mind, and guests will have not only a spot for their cars but also an additional spot to spread out lawn chairs and picnic.

“Guests still will be able to photograph, see and feel the heart-thumping roar of the world-renowned U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds and other best-in-class performers,” air show officials said in a news release.

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.

Steve Wilson swilson@star-telegram.com

Tarrant County reports single-day low for new COVID-19 cases in August

Tarrant County reported its fewest new coronavirus cases in August with 109 on Monday.

The county reported no pandemic-related deaths for the fifth time this month.

Daily cases, however, have routinely been lower on Mondays because many private labs do not report data on the weekends.

Tarrant County has reported a total of 39,920 COVID-19 cases, including 515 deaths and an estimated 32,643 recoveries. Of the total cases, 1,996 are considered probable, while the rest are confirmed, according to the county’s website.

Dallas County reports its fewest new COVID-19 cases since April

Dallas County reported 182 coronavirus cases Monday, including 84 older, previously unreported cases from March, April and May.

The 98 new cases constitute the lowest new daily case count reported by Dallas County since April 27.

“While this is great news, it is the result of much hard work on your part,” Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins said in a news release and on social media. “wearing your mask, maintaining six-foot distancing, washing your hands regularly, forgoing unnecessary trips, and staying away from anyone outside your family ... We must continue to make these smart decisions for this trend to continue.”

Dallas County has confirmed a total of 69,086 COVID-19 cases, including 857 deaths. The county does not report recoveries.

Of the 84 unreported coronavirus cases in Monday’s total, 18 are from March, 43 are from April, and 23 are from May.

A backlog in the state’s data reporting system caused thousands of COVID-19 cases to go unreported from as far back as March. Texas’ Department of State Health Services has been adding the unreported cases for the past 10 days as they’ve been discovered.

Dallas Cowboys do not plan to have fans at scrimmage next Sunday at AT&T Stadium

With the Sept. 13 season opener at the Los Angeles Rams three weeks away, coach Mike McCarthy plans to use a Dallas Cowboys scrimmage at AT&T Stadium next Sunday, Aug. 30 to hasten their preparation.

It was a mandatory event for those planning to work games during the season, per an email obtained by the Star-Telegram. But that event has now been canceled. per a stadium employee.

And now there will be no fans in attendance, per Cowboys spokesman Rich Dalrymple.

It could have served as a dress rehearsal of sorts for hosting fans at games during the season.

A week after the opener against the Rams, the Cowboys will host the Atlanta Falcons on Sept. 20.

Owner Jerry Jones has not revealed how many fans will be allowed, but he continues to insist that having them there is part of the plan and touts the space at AT&T Stadium as a key part of the equation.

“Think of fresh air, think of openness,” Jones said. “Think of a lot of room, a lot of space. That’s the way football is played. Football is by tradition, it’s space. It’s element. It’s air. It’s air flow and movement.”

And it appears Jones plans to open the side doors and roof at AT&T Stadium to help alleviate COVID-19 concerns.