Coronavirus live updates Aug. 26: 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.
As COVID-19 cases continue to drop, Tarrant County extends mask mandate until Nov. 30
Tarrant County Judge Glen Whitley on Tuesday extended the county’s mask mandate until at least Nov. 30.
County commissioners also voted unanimously to extend the COVID-19-related declaration of disaster until Nov. 30, which allows the mask order to be in place. Whitley originally put the order in place on June 25.
The order reinforces Gov. Greg Abbott’s July 2 order, which requires people in counties with 20 or more confirmed COVID-19 cases to wear a face mask in buildings and businesses open to the public and outdoors where maintaining six feet of distance from another person isn’t feasible.
Tarrant County has reported 40,331 COVID-19 cases, including 519 deaths and an estimated 32,670 recoveries. Whitley decided to extend the mask order to keep flattening the curve and make it past Labor Day, which officials believe might cause a spike.
Vinny Taneja, the county’s public health director, said coronavirus cases have increased after major holidays.
Whitley said the county will evaluate the situation after Labor Day, with the possibility of removing the mask mandate. But Taneja believes the masks should stay even if the rates are low after the holiday.
“I would still say it’s a safe practice to continue wearing masks, until we find a vaccine,” Taneja said.
Fort Worth will require masks until at least December as COVID-19 hangs on in DFW
Anyone out and about in Fort Worth will have to wear a mask until at least December to combat the spread of coronavirus.
The Fort Worth City Council on Tuesday voted to extend the city’s mask mandate until Dec. 1. It follows a similar extension from Tarrant County Judge Glen Whitley who Tuesday morning said that even though cases are trending downward, it was not a time to relax precautions.
Councilman Cary Moon was the lone no vote on the extension. He did not explain his position prior to the vote.
Vinny Taneja, the county’s public health director, said 10% of hospital beds are occupied by COVID-19 patients, down from a high of 20% in July. Hospital visits because of COVID-19-like illnesses are also down.
Both of these are key statistics and show that face coverings are working, Taneja said.
Tarrant County to open new COVID-19 testing site this week
Tarrant County and the city of Fort Worth will open a new COVID-19 testing site on Thursday at the Tarrant County College South Campus.
The site is open to all Tarrant County residents for at least the next six weeks and is free of charge if the person has no insurance, according to a county press release. The site will offer self-administered saliva tests from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Testing can be scheduled at covidtesting.tarrantcounty.com.
The new site follows the county’s efforts to expand COVID-19 testing. In the last two weeks, the county has added temporary testing sites around Fort Worth and one new permanent testing site in North Richland Hills.
Tarrant County Precinct 1 Commissioner Roy Charles Brooks said this is another step to continuing to meet the county’s testing needs.
“It is crucial that we have COVID-19 testing throughout Tarrant County,” Brooks said. “This new testing site at the TCC South Campus will help reach a part of the county that has been underserved by testing.”
Tarrant County passes 40,000 COVID cases with biggest jump in a week; 4 more deaths
Tarrant County reported 411 coronavirus cases and four deaths on Tuesday.
The 411 new cases are the most since 460 were reported on Aug. 18.
The latest COVID-19 deaths include a Benbrook man in his 60s, a White Settlement man in his 70s, and Arlington and Fort Worth men in their 80s. All had underlying health conditions, according to officials.
Tarrant County has reported a total of 40,331 COVID-19 cases, including 519 deaths and an estimated 32,670 recoveries.
Of the total COVID-19 deaths in the county, 46% have been white, 30% Hispanic, 19% Black, 3% Asian/Pacific Islanders, and 2% were either unreported or labeled “other.”
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.
Dallas County COVID cases trend down, but 24 new deaths include 4 with no health issues
Dallas County reported 24 coronavirus deaths and 217 cases on Tuesday.
It’s the most COVID-19 deaths reported in the county since 30 on Aug. 11 and more deaths than the past six days combined.
Tuesday’s cases and deaths include no unreported cases from the Texas Department of State Health Services data system backlog, according to county officials.
Dallas County has confirmed 69,303 COVID-19 cases, including 881 deaths. The county does not report recoveries.
The 24 deaths include four patients with no underlying health conditions. The ages include two men in their 30s, one woman in her 40s, two men in their 50s, five men and two women in their 60s, five men and three women in their 70s, two men and a woman in their 80s, and one woman in her 90s. The patients with no underlying health conditions include a Mesquite man in his 30s, a Dallas man in his 60s, a DeSoto woman in her 70s, and a Mesquite man in his 80s.
Four of the deceased were residents of long-term care facilities.
The deaths include 16 residents of Dallas, two each in DeSoto and Mesquite, and one each in Balch Springs, Duncanville, Garland and Lancaster.
Dallas County added to disaster declaration for Hurricane Laura; evacuation sites in DFW
As Hurricane Laura intensifies and moves toward Texas, two locations in the Dallas Fort-Worth area are being prepared to host evacuees fleeing from the storm.
Gov. Greg Abbott announced Tuesday during a news conference that starting at 7 p.m. the Mesquite Reception Center at 15515 East I-20 will accept state buses transporting evacuees.
In addition, the Knights of Columbus Hall at 850 South I-45 will also be open in Ellis County at 7 p.m., Abbott said.
Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price and the city council issued a local disaster declaration Tuesday night, that will activate the city’s emergency operational plan, according to a news release. In an effort to facilitate social distancing, evacuees will be housed in a hotel with assistance from the American Red Cross.
Other evacuation sites will be at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin and at 254 Gembler Rd. in San Antonio.
In addition to the evacuation sites, Texans will also have the option of sheltering in hotel and motel rooms, which Abbott pointed to as a safer option where people could remain isolated from others as the novel coronavirus continues to spread.
“Remember, just because a hurricane is coming to Texas, does not mean that COVID-19 either has or is going to leave Texas,” Abbott said. “COVID-19 is going to be in Texas throughout the course of the hurricane.”
To both safely evacuate residents and limit the potential for the virus to spread, Abbott said that fewer evacuees will be placed on state and local buses in an effort to ensure people can remain spread apart.