The day when the coronavirus’ effects hit Fort Worth and Texas

Mayor Betsy Price addressed Fort Worth from City Hall on Friday to declare a state of disaster. There were no reporters or microphones or big video cameras like when she usually makes announcements. She did it over Facebook to practice social distancing.

It was the sign of a city rapidly changed by the coronavirus, both by the message of emergency she shared and in the isolated way she chose to share it. Friday was when the virus’ effects on everyday life hit Fort Worth and Texas with the greatest force yet: Disasters were declared at state and local levels, schools extended spring breaks through the end of the month and new testing capabilities were announced as it became clear community spread had reached Dallas-Fort Worth.

As of Friday afternoon, Tarrant County had three cases of coronavirus. The first, a priest at Trinity Episcopal Church, was announced Tuesday and the second, someone who had recently traveled abroad, Friday by Tarrant County Public Health director Vinny Taneja. The third case, announced Friday, involves a resident who’s been in contact with a person in Collin County who also tested positive. The rest of the DFW area, as of Friday afternoon, had more than another dozen cases. Dallas County had the first person test positive who had not recently traveled out of the area, signifying the possibility of community spread. In Austin, the University of Texas president Greg Fenves announced his wife had tested positive for coronavirus.

Price said Fort Worth’s disaster measures were taken to prevent a rapid increase in cases. “If we could stretch this out three to four weeks, we can keep more people out of the hospital and those who are there will have a better level of service,” she said.

Under the disaster guidelines, gatherings of larger than 250 people are not allowed, libraries and community centers are closed and nonessential city events are canceled. Religious services were not ordered to be canceled, but officials said places of worship should spread out services to reduce crowds and discard traditions (the Diocese of Dallas canceled services on its own). “Let’s not shake hands and share food and drink at religious practices,” said Vinny Taneja, director of Tarrant County Public Health.

For the first time, Price also recommended businesses adjust their relationship with employees, by keeping them 6 feet from one another or giving them freedom to work from home. It was only a recommendation, she emphasized.

The Fort Worth news followed Gov. Greg Abbott’s statewide declaration of disaster from Austin. Next to the director of the Department of State Health Services, he said they were building on the state’s pre-existing infectious disease capabilities and plans that had started with daily calls in late January.

The declaration of disaster means the state can use all available and necessary government resources to manage the coronavirus situation. Like Price, Abbott also called on businesses to be more flexible with workers — as a recommendation. He noted that AT&T was waiving extra fees for any customers working from home who exceeded their monthly-allotted bandwidth.

“In typical Texas fashion, the private sector is stepping up,” Abbott said.

Some businesses were well ahead of the curve. Central Market and H-E-B noted on Twitter it had been preparing for the coronavirus for several months and would be capable of restocking shelves.

The parents who work from home in the coming weeks will be joined by their children. More than a dozen area school districts, including Fort Worth and Arlington, decided to extend their spring breaks for at least another two weeks after consulting with local health officials Friday morning. Fort Worth district personnel are working to give online educational opportunities and provide meals to children who receive free lunch at their schools. Arlington superintendent Marcela Cavazos said in a press release: “We don’t decide to close schools very often. But we’re in an unprecedented situation that requires us to take unprecedented action.”

And for Fort Worth it may be only the beginning. Alongside Price during her Facebook announcement, Brandon Bennett, director of the city’s Environmental Health and Code Compliance Department, cautioned that residents needed to get used to life at home for at least two weeks. Price interrupted him to recommend people to binge watch to stay entertained. “And if you run out of things to binge watch,” Bennett said, “you can come over to my house on Netflix and we’ll binge watch together. I just want everybody to help us with this unified message.”

This story was originally published March 13, 2020 at 6:01 PM.