Coronavirus live updates Sept. 24: 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.
Families of Azle nursing home residents who died of COVID seek answers
Jacqueline Meador watched her father get worse through the blinds of a window.
On most days between the end of July and the beginning of August, she and her mother would look into Jack Roeder’s room at the Azle Manor nursing home from the lawn outside. They had learned on July 15 he had the coronavirus, and only 48 hours later he took a turn for the worse.
He died in his sleep on Aug. 13.
A total of 16 residents of the nursing home have died from the coronavirus, almost a quarter of the 69 cases reported since March, according to the facility’s self-reported data to Texas Health and Human Services. There have also been 38 cases among employees, data shows.
The children of three residents who died of COVID-19 spoke with the Star-Telegram about what they described as a failure by leadership to be forthright about the outbreak. By the time they learned their parents had the virus, they said, they didn’t have a chance to move them out of the facility. And then they had to say goodbye.
Texas Nursing facilities case counts
Here are the self-reported COVID-19 case counts in residents and staff at licensed Texas nursing facilities. You can search by city, nursing facility name, and also sort by columns.
No more snow days? Here’s how else school in Fort Worth might change after COVID-19.
Last year, anytime one of her students was out sick, Halie Poe had to fill out a list of everything that student had missed that day. Then, she had to walk the list to all of the student’s teachers so they could add the day’s assignments. Once that was done, Poe had to take the list, along with any supporting materials, to the office so the student’s parents could pick it up.
This year, that process is far simpler for Poe, who is a fifth-grade math and science teacher at Ridglea Hills Elementary School in Fort Worth. It’s also simpler for students and their families.
With classes moved online, Poe can just point students who miss online class sessions to her Google Classroom page. All their assignments, class announcements and recorded class sessions are there in one place. That also means students can’t leave their homework at school when they go home for the day or forget to bring it back the following morning.
“The missing work drama that we’ve always dealt with is now magically solved,” Poe said.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic arrived in March, teachers across North Texas have had to rethink even the most basic things about the way they do their jobs. While there are many challenges to online learning, not all of those changes were bad, and, in fact, teachers say some of them were long overdue. Teachers and education experts predict some of the changes teachers have been forced to make during school shutdowns will reshape education in ways that last long after the pandemic ends.
How a Dallas Stars executive used COVID-19 quarantine to lose 100 pounds
This time one year ago, Tom Holy weighed 304 pounds. Today, he weighs between 210 and 215.
We all had aspirations to put quarantining to good use, and re-evaluate our lives. The public relations director of the Dallas Stars was one of those who can say COVID was not a total waste of time, or his life.
“It comes down to mindset. I wanted to make choices that would help myself rather than hurt myself,” Holy said in a recent phone interview; he is with the Stars as they played Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final on Wednesday night in Edmonton.
“I really don’t know why I had this realization. I didn’t even know I was making the decision,” he said. “It was, ‘What can I do with things that were very limited?’ The choices were three-fold.”
Holy, who is now 40 and single, adjusted his choices based on budget, the need to stay active even if he’s stuck inside, and what he could do better himself.
Fort Worth passes 300 COVID deaths as Tarrant County reports over 300 cases for 5th day
Tarrant County reported 384 coronavirus cases and five deaths on Wednesday.
It’s the fifth consecutive day the county has reported more than 300 cases. The only other time 300 or more cases have been reported in five consecutive days was Aug. 16.
The five deaths include a Fort Worth man and Fort Worth woman in their 50s, Fort Worth men in their 60s and 80s, and a Bedford woman in her 90s. Each had underlying health conditions, according to officials.
Fort Worth has now reported 301 COVID-related deaths, the most in the county. Arlington has reported 111, White Settlement has reported 27 and Mansfield has reported 26.
Tarrant County has reported a total of 47,917 COVID-19 cases, including 641 deaths and an estimated 41,788 recoveries.
COVID-19 causes respiratory illness with cough, fever and shortness of breath and may lead to bronchitis and severe pneumonia. For more information go to coronavirus.tarrantcounty.com or call the Tarrant County Public Health information line, 817-248-6299.
Dallas County surpasses 1,000 COVID-19 deaths, reports 58 deaths in past 16 days
Dallas County surpassed 1,000 COVID-19 deaths with two more reported on Wednesday.
The county reported 348 coronavirus cases, including two probable cases, on Wednesday. Of those cases, 221 were unreported from earlier, including 201 from September, 11 from August and nine from July.
Dallas County has confirmed 78,723 coronavirus cases, including 1,002 deaths. The county does not report recoveries.
The county has reported at least one COVID death each day since Sept. 7. In the 16-day span, 58 deaths have been reported.
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.
Coronavirus pandemic forces Cliburn piano competition to wait until 2022
Officials with the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition announced Tuesday the renowned event that draws visitors from all over the world to Fort Worth has been postponed until 2022.
This is the first time in the competition’s almost 60-year history that it has been postponed.
Jacques Marquis, president and CEO of the Cliburn, said the board met last week and discussed options for holding the competition. The decision to postpone one of the pre-eminent music competitions in the world wasn’t made lightly, he said.
“We are very instrumental in launching careers. Our competitors win money, engagement and support, and that is a stepping stone to a young career,” Marquis said.
Marquis said there is still uncertainty in terms of holding competitions in 2021, which was when the Van Cliburn International Competition was to take place.