Updated at 10:01 am. April 6
Officials with Tarrant County Public Health announced April 5 that two more Tarrant County residents have died due to complications from the novel coronavirus.
TCPH Director Vinny Taneja confirmed the patients were an elderly adult male from Fort Worth and an elderly adult female from Arlington. Both patients are believed to have contracted the virus through local transmission.
According to Taneja, the elderly female patient was a resident of the Heartis Arlington assisted-living facility. The department has been monitoring the facility since receiving news of a positive test in March, Taneja said.
“Some residents were isolated; preventative and infection control measures were taken; and we identified groups of people that needed to be tested, which included most of the residents and staff,” Taneja said.
TCPH has identified a total of 12 positive cases of the COVID-19 virus at the facility, including 11 residents and one staff member. Patients that have tested positive have been self-quarantined at the facility, the release said.
There are now a total of 418 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus in Tarrant County, with 11 deaths and 23 patients that have recovered.
The city of Fort Worth has confirmed 152 cases, with eight recoveries and four deaths. The city of Southlake has 16 confirmed cases, with three recoveries and one death. The city of Keller has 12 confirmed cases, Grapevine has 11 confirmed cases and Colleyville has nine confirmed cases.
Updated 8:40 p.m. April 4
Two more people in Tarrant County have died from the novel coronavirus, Tarrant County Public Health confirmed April 4.
One was an elderly Southlake resident with underlying health conditions, the county reported. The health department described the second as a younger Haltom City resident with no underlying health conditions. Both contracted the virus through community transmission, according to a health department statement.
"Sadly, their deaths are a reminder for everyone that we are seeing more COVID-19 disease across our community," Tarrant County Public Health Director Vinny Taneja said in a statement.
The health department reports that the community spread level is "substantial." To date, there are 404 positive cases of the virus in Tarrant County, with nine deaths and 23 people who have recovered.
Denton County Public Health announced April 4 that 15 additional cases of coronavirus have been confirmed, bringing the county’s total to 288. So far, 67 residents who have been diagnosed with the virus have recovered, and six have died, according to public health officials.
Updated at 4:20 p.m. April 3
Officials with Tarrant County Public Health confirmed April 3 another death in the county due to complications from the novel coronavirus. TCPH numbers indicate a total of seven deaths in the county from COVID-19.
The latest patient was an adult Fort Worth resident with underlying health conditions, TCPH Director Vinny Taneja said.
"We want residents of Tarrant County to continue to be mindful of basic preventative measures to protect themselves from COVID-19 and other respiratory viruses," Taneja said.
Including provisional cases, Tarrant County has a total of 383 confirmed cases of Covid-19, with 23 patients that have recovered.
Of seven deaths reported in the county, three patients were from Fort Worth, two were from Forest Hill, one was from Arlington and one was from Hurst.
Denton County Public Health announced April 3 that a Lewisville woman in her 70s has died due to COVID-19, marking the sixth death in Denton County.
The patient was a resident of a nursing facility and caught the coronavirus through local transmission, according to public health officials.
“As we report the loss of a sixth life to COVID-19 in Denton County today, we hope everyone will take a moment to keep our fellow residents affected by this pandemic in your thoughts and prayers,” Denton County Judge Andy Eads said in a statement. “The seriousness of taking precautions cannot be overstated. With community spread endemic in our county, we must take the necessary steps to ensure we do not contribute to the problem.”
Denton County Public Health has also announced that 19 more cases of coronavirus have been confirmed locally, bringing the county’s total number of cases to 273. So far, 62 residents have recovered. There are two confirmed cases in the city of Roanoke.
Updated at 5:04 p.m. April 2
Denton County Public Health announced April 2 that a Carrollton man in his 70s has died due to COVID-19, bringing the county’s death toll to five.
The man caught the virus through local transmission, according to health officials.
“As we report the loss of a fifth life to COVID-19 in Denton County today, we hope everyone will take a moment to keep our fellow residents affected by this pandemic in your thoughts and prayers,” said Denton County Judge Andy Eads in a statement. “The seriousness of taking precautions cannot be overstated. With community spread endemic in our county, we must take the necessary steps to ensure we do not contribute to the problem.”
Denton County Public Health also announced that 23 additional COVID-19 cases have been confirmed locally, bringing the county’s total to 254.
DCPH has also announced 23 additional laboratory-confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Denton County. This increases the countywide total to 254 confirmed COVID-19 cases. So far, 57 of those who were diagnosed with COVID-19 have recovered.
Updated at 11:16 a.m. April 2
Tarrant County Public Health has confirmed three additional deaths in the county due to complications from the novel coronavirus. Two patients were residents of Forest Hill, and one was a resident of Fort Worth, according to a department news release.
Official numbers indicate a total of six deaths in Tarrant County from the COVID-19 virus.
All three recent deaths were elderly patients with underlying health conditions. Each patient was being monitored by Tarrant County Public Health, Director Vinny Taneja said.
“We express our deepest sympathies to the families,” Taneja said.
Including provisional cases, Tarrant County has 288 total confirmed cases of COVID-19, with 18 patients who have recovered.
There are 103 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Fort Worth, with six recoveries; 11 confirmed cases in Southlake, with two recoveries; 10 confirmed cases in Grapevine; eight confirmed cases in Keller; and seven confirmed cases in Colleyville.
Updated at 4:54 p.m. April 1
Denton County Public Health announced that 25 additional cases of coronavirus have been confirmed locally, bringing the county total to 231.
So far, 55 patients have recovered and four have died, according to officials. Two Roanoke residents have been diagnosed with the disease.
Public health officials stated that 78 of the county’s cases have resulted from local transmission.
Updated at 12:24 p.m. April 1
Tarrant County Public Health has confirmed two additional deaths in Tarrant County due to coronavirus complications.
The two patients were an adult male from Hurst and an adult female from Fort Worth, according to a department news release. Tarrant County has a total of three confirmed COVID-19 deaths.
According to Tarrant County Public Health Director Vinny Taneja, both patients had underlying health conditions. HIPAA laws prevent the department from disclosing any additional information, Taneja said.
“We want residents of Tarrant County to continue to be mindful of basic preventative measures to protect themselves from Covid-19 and other respiratory viruses,” Taneja said.
Tarrant County Public Health will investigate who patients may have come into contact with, the release said. Close contacts will be isolated, monitored for symptoms and tested if needed.
Including provisional cases, Tarrant County has 288 total confirmed cases of coronavirus in the county.
There are 103 confirmed cases in Fort Worth, 11 in Southlake, 10 in Grapevine, eight in Keller and seven in Colleyville. Among 18 patients that have recovered, six were from Fort Worth, two were from Southlake and one was from Colleyville.
Following an executive order issued March 31 by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, officials with Keller ISD and Northwest ISD announced that ongoing school closures would be extended.
Each district will adhere to Abbott's recommendations and cancel on-campus classes and activities through May 4, district officials said.
Denton County Public Health announced March 31 that a fourth Denton County resident has died due to coronavirus. He caught the disease through local transmission, according to officials.
The resident, a man in his 60s, lived in The Colony.
“Today, we have learned of yet another death due to COVID-19 which has impacted our communities in Denton County,” Judge Andy Eads said in a statement. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to this man’s family as well as the families of those who have also been victims of this terrible pandemic.”
Fifteen additional cases of the coronavirus have been confirmed, bringing the county’s total number of cases to 206. Fifty of those who have been diagnosed with the virus have since recovered.
Updated at 1:56 p.m. March 31
Denton County Commissioners Court voted to extend the county’s disaster declaration and stay-at-home order until April 7 at 11:59 p.m.
The commissioners amended the stay-at-home order to allow nonprofits to provide curbside services.
The order, which has been in effect since 11:59 p.m. March 25, mandates that residents stay 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. The original order can be found here.
Updated at 12:20 p.m. March 31
The Fort Worth Police Department is reporting that two of its officers have tested positive for novel coronavirus.
According to a department news release, the officers are in self-isolation at home and in "good spirits."
"We can confirm that both officers work in the same unit and had limited close contact with others while at work," FWPD said in a statement. "We have staff backtracking the movements and encounters of these officers with others, and they are notifying anyone that may be at risk and needs to self-isolate. We are also disinfecting the offices where they worked."
Updated at 5 p.m. March 30
Denton County Public Health announced March 30 that a third Denton County resident has died due to COVID-19. She caught the disease through local transmission, according to officials.
The resident, a woman in her 60s, lived in unincorporated Denton County.
“The news of a third individual’s death due to COVID-19 is tragic,” Denton County Judge Andy Eads said in a statement. “Our thoughts and prayers are with her family at this difficult time.”
Twenty-six additional cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed, bringing the county’s total number of cases to 191. Thirty-five of those who have been diagnosed with the virus have since recovered.
Of the Denton County residents who have been diagnosed with the virus, two were in Roanoke.
Denton County residents have been under a stay-at-home order since 11:59 p.m. March 25.
The order mandates that residents stay 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.
“This situation underscores the need to follow the stay-at-home mandate,” Eads stated. “We need everyone’s cooperation to help protect the health of all our residents, especially our most vulnerable.”
Denton County Commissioners Court will consider extending the order at a meeting March 31.
Original Post
City and county governments, local businesses, school districts and residents across the Dallas-Fort Worth area continue to grapple with the effects of COVID-19, or coronavirus.
Tarrant County Public Health officials announced March 30 that the county will begin reporting all types of COVID-19 cases, including provisional cases that have been confirmed by lab reports but require collection of additional investigative data.
“Until now, we have only been reporting confirmed cases, but, as the numbers in Tarrant County continue to increase, we want to provide the public with as much information as possible about the spread of COVID-19 in our communities,” said Vinny Taneja, director of Tarrant County Public Health.
According to Tarrant County Public Health, there are currently 155 total confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the county. There are 83 additional provisional cases that have been lab-confirmed.
The county has reported one death due to coronavirus and eight persons who have recovered from the illness.
The city of Fort Worth has 52 confirmed active cases of COVID-19, while the city of Keller has seven confirmed active cases.
“The health and safety of all Tarrant County residents is our No. 1 priority,” Taneja said. “We want to be as transparent and open as possible while also protecting the privacy and health information of everyone involved.”
Elsewhere, officials with Northwest ISD and Keller ISD announced that the emergency school closure currently underway will be extended through April 17.
"Keller ISD facilities will be closed through April 17 to help prevent the spread of COVID-19," according to a district news release. "Online learning and the Drive Through Meal program will continue."
NISD consulted public health experts and officials from three counties before making the decision, according to the district.
In a special meeting March 27, the NISD board of trustees approved delaying the district’s May elections for school board members and a new district bond until Nov. 3, 2020.
On March 29, Denton County Public Health announced that a second Denton County resident has died due to COVID-19. 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, two are from Roanoke.
Twenty-eight of the Denton County residents who were diagnosed with COVID-19 have since recovered, according to officials.
COVID-19 can cause respiratory illness along with cough, fever, shortness of breath and pneumonia.
Public health guidelines for preventive measures include practicing social distancing; avoiding large gatherings; washing hands regularly; avoiding touching the face, eyes, mouth or nose; avoiding close contact with people who are sick; covering your mouth when coughing or sneezing; and frequently disinfecting oft-touched objects and surfaces.
