A new blog-style page for coronavirus updates in Frisco can be found at this link.
Updated 6:05 p.m. March 29
Public health officials in Collin and Denton counties confirmed four additional cases of novel coronavirus among Frisco residents on March 29. There were two from each county.
That brings Frisco's total of confirmed cases to 36, including 20 in Collin County and 16 in Denton County.
Denton County health officials did not provide any additional information on the new cases. Collin County's new cases in Frisco are a 37-year-old female who has been hospitalized and a 50-year-old female who is self-isolating after recent domestic travel.
Collin County health officials reported six new cases of novel coronavirus March 29, bringing the county's total to 134 reported cases. (One case that had previously been counted as a McKinney resident has been confirmed as a Dallas County resident). Denton County Public Health announced 17 more residents were diagnosed with COVID-19, bringing that county's total to 165.
Updated 6:10 p.m. March 28
Collin County health officials reported 11 new cases of the novel coronavirus March 28, including a 61-year-old woman in Frisco.
The 11 new cases bring Collin County's total to 129 total reported cases. Plano had the most of the newly reported cases in the county with four, followed by three residents in Dallas, two in McKinney and one Lucas.
The Frisco ISD Board of Trustees will hold a special meeting at 10 a.m. April 1 via video conference. Among the items to be considered is an order to postpone the election for Board of Trustees Places 4 and 5, a status report on FISD's eLearning plan and COVID-19 response, and a resolution regarding delegation of authority during the COVID-19 emergency.
Meanwhile, McKinney Mayor George Fuller said he and Collin County Judge Chris Hill are still working to resolve perceived inconsistencies in their orders to combat the new coronavirus. The talks began after a lawsuit was filed seeking a temporary restraining order against McKinney's shelter-in-place policy. The city of Frisco, which is in both Denton and Collin counties, has adopted the Denton County order for its citizens. Learn about Frisco's policies here. See the McKinney story here.
Updated 4:05 p.m. March 28
Denton County Public Health announced that another Denton County resident has died due to COVID-19, bringing the number of deaths in the county related to the novel coronavirus to two.
The resident was a male in his 60s who lived in Aubrey, according to officials.
“We are saddened to report a second COVID-19 death within our county,” Denton County Judge Andy Eads said in a statement. “To his family, we continue to send our thoughts and prayers to you as you navigate through this difficult time.”
An additional 11 cases of coronavirus have been confirmed, bringing the countywide total to 148. Among that total, 14 are from Frisco.
Twenty-eight of the Denton County residents who were diagnosed with COVID-19 have since recovered, according to officials.
Updated at 2:50 p.m. March 28
Collin County health officials have updated the March 27 tally to reflect 31 new cases with 11 of those being Plano residents. The county's total stands at 118 cases.
Updated 9:05 p.m. March 27
Collin County saw a nearly 37% rise Friday in the number of reported COVID-19 cases.
The county reported 32 new cases, bringing the county's total to 119 positive tests.
Plano had the largest share of the new cases. Twelve more of the city's residents were confirmed positive for the new coronavirus, bringing the city's total to 41.
McKinney and Frisco each had five new cases reported in Collin County.
One Collin County case counted earlier this week was found to be a Dallas County resident, which dropped the earlier total by one, health officials reported.
Updated 6:10 p.m. March 27
Frisco City Council approved an ordinance March 27 amending the city's declaration of local disaster for public health emergency to formally adopt guidelines issued by Denton County this week.
Under Denton County’s stay-at-home order, residents are mandated to stay at home except to perform specific essential activities and work to provide essential business and government services.
Mayor Jeff Cheney said the city also adopted clarifications issued by Denton County March 27 that golf courses could not be open and that car dealer showrooms could not be open, except by appointment only to finish online sales.
“And there was one small thing where in Denton’s ordinance it technically said funerals are allowed with immediate family only,” Cheney explained, “and we just amended the language to say anyone can come as long as there’s social distancing.”
Council also approved an ordinance that moves the upcoming May 2 municipal election to Nov. 3.
“It’s certainly not what we consider ideal,” Cheney said, noting it is more difficult for municipal elections to be nonpartisan in November. “We like to have our municipal elections on a different date, so those candidates' voices can be clearly heard.”
Mayor Pro Tem John Keating explained council explored all options available to scheduling the election sooner than November but were unable to do so.
“Election code provides for two dates for elections,” City Attorney Richard Abernathy told council. “One is in May, and the other is in November.”
While the Democratic and Republican parties' primary runoffs have been moved to July, Abernathy explained those are run by those political parties and would be different than the elections the city oversees.
At the county level, public health officials in Denton and Collin counties confirmed six additional cases of novel coronavirus among Frisco residents on March 27.
That brings Frisco's total number of confirmed cases to 30, including 17 in Collin County and 13 in Denton County.
The Texas Health and Human Services Commission announced additional steps Friday to protect staff and residents at the Denton State Supported Living Center after multiple confirmed cases at the facility.
Additional testing of individuals who may have been exposed is expected, according to officials.
“There is no higher priority than protecting the health and safety of residents, staff and the local community in Denton and everywhere we have state supported living centers,” Health and Human Services Associate Commissioner for State Supported Living Centers Scott Schalchlin said. “We are working side-by-side with local and state health departments and area hospitals to ensure all medical needs are met while preserving hospital capacity in the community and region.”
Updated 12:20 p.m. March 27
Denton County Commissioners Court voted on a revised disaster declaration due to the COVID-19 outbreak at an emergency meeting March 27.
The renewed declaration will last through March 31. Commissioners have another meeting scheduled that day to consider whether to extend the declaration further.
Updated 10:19 a.m. March 27
Collin County health officials reported 22 new cases of novel coronavirus, including three additional cases in Frisco.
The three new cases in Frisco include a 51-year-old female and 40-year-old male, both with no underlying health conditions, as well as a 34-year-old female who has recovered. That brings Frisco's total to 24 confirmed cases, including 12 in Collin County and 12 in Denton County.
The new Collin County cases bring its total to 88 confirmed cases. Here is the breakdown of the rest of those new cases, according to county health officials:
• an Allen male, 41, with no underlying health conditions, recovered;
• an Allen female, 70, with no underlying health conditions, isolating at home;
• a Dallas male, 55, with no underlying health conditions, isolating at home;
• a McKinney male, 32, with no underlying health conditions, isolating at home;
• a McKinney male, 28, with no underlying health conditions, isolating at home;
• a McKinney male, 47, with no underlying health conditions, isolating at home;
• a McKinney female, 62, with underlying health conditions, isolating at home;
• a Plano male, 52, with no underlying health conditions, isolating at home;
• a Plano female, 46, with no underlying health conditions, isolating at home;
• a Plano male, 21, with no underlying health conditions, isolating at home;
• a Plano female, 48, with no underlying health conditions, isolating at home;
• a Plano female, 32, with no underlying health conditions, isolating at home;
• a Plano female, 32, with no underlying health conditions, isolating at home;
• a Plano female, 68, with no underlying health conditions, hospitalized;
• a Plano female, 44, with no underlying health conditions, isolating at home;
• a Plano male, 41, with no underlying health conditions, isolating at home;
• a Plano female, 32, with no underlying health conditions, isolating at home;
• a Plano female, 73, with no underlying health conditions, isolating at home; and
• a Wylie male, 51, with no underlying health conditions, isolating at home.
Frisco also announced City Council will hold a special meeting at 4 p.m. March 27 to consider an ordinance that would once again amend the declaration of local disaster for public health emergency. That ordinance was previously amended by council on March 20.
The only other item on the agenda is an ordinance that would postpone the May 2 municipal election for the offices of mayor and council Places 5 and 6 to Nov. 3.
Updated 5:49 p.m. March 26
Denton County health officials announced that 13 new cases of the novel coronavirus have been confirmed, including three additional cases in Frisco.
That brings Frisco's total confirmed case count to 22, with 12 in Denton County and 10 in Collin County.
Denton County's new cases bring the number of county cases to 83. The county did not provide any further information on the new patients.
Updated 3:58 p.m. March 25
Denton County Judge Andy Eads announced March 26 that a Lewisville man in his 40s has died from complications due to the coronavirus, marking the first death in the county resulting from the pandemic.
Eads urged residents to stay at home to help stop the spread of the virus.
“I am heart-sickened by the news I have to share with you today,” Eads said. “As your county judge I cannot stress enough the gravity of the situation we face in Denton County. The situation we face will get worse before it gets better. How much worse depends solely on the actions we take going forward. Your carelessness or cavalier attitude can and will result in someone else’s death. Stay home. Wash your hands.”
There are a total of 83 cases in the county as of March 26, Eads said.
The county’s stay-at-home order went into effect March 25. It requires residents to stay at home except to perform specific essential activities and work to provide essential business and government services or to perform essential public infrastructure construction, including housing.
Updated 7:49 p.m. March 25
Collin County health officials reported 13 new cases of novel coronavirus, including two additional cases in Frisco.
The two new cases in Frisco–a 40-year-old man and a 72-year-old man–bring the city's total confirmed cases to 19, including 10 in Collin County and nine in Denton County.
Of Collin County's new cases, which brings its total to 66 confirmed cases, two people are hospitalized, four have underlying health conditions, and seven have recently traveled, including one internationally. Here is the breakdown of the rest of those new cases, according to county health officials:
• A 40-year-old McKinney man;
• A 68-year-old McKinney woman;
• A 65-year-old McKinney man;
• A 40-year-old Plano woman;
• A 69-year-old Plano woman;
• A 41-year-old Wylie man;
• A 49-year-old Wylie man;
• An 18-year-old Richardson woman;
• A 69-year-old Dallas man;
• A 65-year-old Anna woman; and
• A 42-year-old Celina man.
Updated 6:38 p.m. March 25
Denton County Public Health announced March 25 that 19 new cases of the novel coronavirus have been confirmed, including four additional cases in Frisco.
That brings Frisco's total of confirmed cases to 17, including eight in Collin County and nine in Denton County.
Denton County's new cases bring the number of county cases to 70. The county did not provide any further information on the new patients.
Updated 10:20 a.m. March 25
Frisco ISD is offering extended Wi-Fi coverage in some school parking lots to help students access their eLearning activities.
The district installed additional wireless access points at 14 schools to expand the Wi-Fi signal to driveways and parking lots. Those campuses include:
• Allen Elementary School, 5800 Legacy Drive, Frisco, TX 75034;
• Anderson Elementary School, 2800 Oakland Hills Drive, Plano, TX 75025 at the back of the campus, parking lot near POD 1 and 2;
• Bright Academy, 7600 Woodstream Drive, Frisco, TX 75034;
• Career and Technical Education, 9889 Wade Blvd., Frisco, TX 75035 near the southeast part of the building and northwest corner near the print center;
• Curtsinger Elementary School, 12450 Jereme Trail, Frisco, TX 75035;
• Corbell Elementary School, 11095 Monarch Drive, Frisco, TX 75033;
• Gunstream Elementary School, 7600 Rockyridge Drive, Frisco, TX 75035;
• Heritage High School, 14040 W. Eldorado Pkwy., Frisco, TX 75035 at the front and side of C-Hall (front-right wing and southeast part of building);
• Lone Star High School, 2606 Panther Creek Pkwy., Frisco, TX 75033 at D-Hall and library (west and northwest part of the building);
• Miller Elementary School, 300 Cypress Hill Drive, Little Elm, TX 75068;
• Ogle Elementary School, 4200 Big Fork Trail, McKinney, TX 75070;
• Pioneer Heritage Middle School, 1649 High Shoals Drive, Frisco, TX 75034;
• Rogers Elementary School, 10500 Rogers Road, Frisco, TX 75033;
• Tadlock Elementary School, 12515 Godfrey Drive, Frisco, TX 75035;
District-owned devices will automatically connect to the “Frisco-ISD” Wi-Fi, but personal devices will need to find “FriscoISD-Guest” as a new option. Students can reference this set of instructions for additional information on connecting to the Wi-Fi or reach out to their campus digital learning coach.
This Wi-Fi will be available for families 24/7 from the front driveway and parking lot of the campus. The district has placed signs on the campuses to indicate the Wi-Fi locations.
At the county level, Collin County health officials reported eight new cases of novel coronavirus on March 24, including a 41-year-old Frisco man. He has underlying health conditions and is self-isolating in his home.
That brings Frisco's total of confirmed cases to 13, including eight in Collin County and five in Denton County.
Denton County Public Health announced March 24 that 15 additional cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed locally, bringing the total to 51 cases in Denton County. Officials did not provide any further details on the patients.
The new Collin County cases bring its total to 53 confirmed cases. Here is the breakdown of the rest of those new cases, according to county health officials:
• A 54-year-old man from Allen;
• A 63-year-old woman from Allen who had close contact with another confirmed case;
• A 61-year-old Allen woman who had close contact with another person with COVID-19;
• A 27-year-old McKinney man who had close contact with a confirmed case;
• A 77-year-old Richardson woman with recent international travel;
• A 42-year-old Melissa man with underlying health conditions and recent domestic travel; and,
• A 35-year-old Melissa woman who recently went on domestic travel.
Texas Workforce Commission Executive Director Ed Serna will hold a Facebook Live Town Hall at 2:30 p.m. March 25 to answer questions important to Texas and Texans about how the Unemployment Insurance Process works and how TWC is bolstering its resources to meet the unique challenges of the novel coronavirus. The event can be accessed at www.facebook.com/texasworkforcecommission.
Updated 12:45 p.m. March 24
Denton County residents are ordered to stay at home as of 11:59 p.m. March 25 in an effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
The order will be in effect for seven days unless it is extended by the Denton County Commissioners Court. Under the order, residents are mandated to stay at home except to perform specific essential activities and work to provide essential business and government services or to perform essential public infrastructure construction, including housing.
Denton County Judge Andy Eads said it is incumbent on residents to stay at home to help save lives.
“We cannot ask our businesses to bear the brunt of these actions and not do our own part,” Eads said at a March 24 press conference. “All social events must stop. Period. That alone will have the greatest impact on our community.”
To read more, click here.
Updated 6:50 p.m. March 23
Denton County Public Health announced March 23 that six more residents have been diagnosed with COVID-19, bringing the county’s total number of confirmed cases to 36.
Denton County is under a disaster declaration for a public health emergency until March 30 unless it is extended or renewed by the Denton County Commissioners Court.
Updated 3:06 p.m. March 23
A day after Dallas County announced a stay-at-home order, Collin County officials are looking to implement their own version, according to McKinney Mayor George Fuller.
Fuller said McKinney, along with all other Collin County cities, will be announcing some form of a "shelter in place" requirement March 24. The specifics of the order have not been released at this time.
“The safety of the community is our No. 1 priority,” Fuller said.
A press conference with details about the order will be held at 10 a.m. March 24 at the Collin County Courthouse, County Judge Chris Hill said during a March 23 Commissioners Court meeting.
On March 22, Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins issued an order that calls for all residents there to shelter in place beginning at 11:59 p.m. March 23 through April 3 to slow the spread of the virus.
People should refrain from leaving their homes, unless for gathering groceries or essential medical supplies, according to the order. Essential services such as health care work are exempt from the stay-at-home order.
Jenkins' order applies only to residents who live in Dallas County. He said during a news conference that he hopes his decision will influence some of the surrounding counties to take similar measures.
"There’s 2.7 million people in Dallas County, but there’s 7.6 million people in the metroplex,” Jenkins said. “This is going to spread across the state, and a month from now, ... nobody is going to be saying, ‘Thank god I was able to go to work for one extra two weeks.’"
Collin County commissioners also voted March 23 in favor of continuing a declaration of local disaster for public health emergency.
Updated 12:55 p.m. March 23
Frisco confirmed it has 12 cases of coronavirus between Denton and Collin counties as of March 22. Seven of those people reside in Collin County, and five reside in Denton County.
On March 20, Frisco City Council unanimously voted to extend the local state of disaster for a public health emergency to contain the spread of coronavirus through April 8.
Council voted to extend the declaration March 20 during a special meeting. Mayor Jeff Cheney initially made the declaration March 16.
“The mayor can declare an emergency order, but it’s only good for seven days,” Cheney said after Friday’s meeting. “Then the council has to vote on it. That’s why we had to schedule our meeting for this evening, so we could continue the emergency order.”
Cheney said the declaration was extended to April 8 because council’s next scheduled meeting is April 7.
“We wanted to extend it at least until our next council meeting so if we needed to vote to extend it again, we could," Cheney said.
Coronavirus updates from before March 22 can be found at this link• • • • .
