COVID-19 In DFW April 26-May 2: Restaurants, Malls, Retail Stores Begin Reopening

Per Gov. Greg Abbott's plan retailers and restaurants began reopening Friday, May 1.

Get the latest news from our COVID-19 Live Updates page.

Dallas County Reports 181 New Cases, 4 Deaths

Dallas County Health and Human Services is reporting 181 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 4 deaths.

The deceased include:

• An Irving man in his 20s who ha been critically ill in a hospital
• A Richardson man in his 70s who had been critically ill in a hospital
• A Grand Prairie man in his 70s who had been critically ill in a hospital
• A man in his 90s who was a resident of a Mesquite long-term care facility

These numbers bring the countywide total to 3,899 cases and 110 deaths.
"Before the governor's order opening more businesses, medical models had targeted the next few days as our peak with declines expected in mid-May," said Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins in a statement. "Increased activity makes this harder to achieve but it’s still possible if we all make smart decisions and follow the advice of the scientists that have spent their adult lives preparing for this moment.”

Tarrant County Reports 115 More Cases, 2 Deaths

Tarrant County Public Health is reporting 2 COVID-19 deaths and 115 additional cases.

The dead includes a Keller man in his 50s and a Fort Worth man in his 60s, and both had underlying health issues. These deaths bring the county's total to 71.

Facebook Invites Fort Worth ISD Seniors To Participate In Online Graduation Event

Fort Worth ISD seniors, parents and teachers are invited to send videos and photos for an online graduation celebration hosted by Facebook.

On Friday, May 15, Facebook and Instagram will stream a celebrity event for graduating high school seniors featuring a commencement address by Oprah Winfrey and tributes from Awkwafina, Jennifer Garner, Lil Nas X and Simone Biles, among others.

Seniors are asked to say who they are and where they're from and to give a shout out to their school. Parents and teachers are asked to offer words of wisdom and messages of pride for the graduates. The deadline for entries is Monday, May 4.

Denton County Reports 13 New Cases

Denton County Public Health is reporting 13 new confirmed cases of COVID-19. This brings the countywide total to 799.

Collin County Reports 19 New Cases

Collin County Public Health is reporting 19 new confirmed cases of COVID-19. This brings the countywide total to 784.

Dallas County Reports 187 Cases, The Highest Daily Total So Far

Dallas County Health and Human Services on Friday reported 187 additional positive cases of COVID-19, the highest daily number yet. This brings the countywide total number of positive cases to 3,718.

Two additional deaths have been reported. They are a Dallas man in his 20s who had been critically ill in a hospital, and a man in his 50s who was incarcerated at a correctional facility in Hutchins. He had been critically ill in a hospital.

Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins said the county reported daily case count records three days over the past week.

“This increase in positive cases has occurred without any significant increase in testing capacity,” Jenkins said. “We have seen younger people dying from COVID-19 this week and today’s victims add to that list. All this illustrates why we all must make smart decisions and follow the science.”

In North Texas, public health officials have been saying they were expecting case counts to increase in late April and early May.

Jenkins encourages people to wear face coverings when they’re visiting businesses, as well as limit unnecessary shopping trips.

Tarrant County Reports 1 Death, 142 New Cases

Tarrant County Public Health is reporting 142 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the countywide total to 2,388. The county is also reporting another death from COVID-19 — a Fort Worth woman in her 50s with underlying health conditions. Tarrant County now has 69 confirmed deaths from the virus.

Denton County Reports 21 New Cases, 1 Death

Denton County Public Health is reporting 21 new COVID-19 cases and one additional death. The female resident of the Denton Rehabilitation Center was in her 60s and was isolated in a hospital. There have been 22 total deaths in Denton County and 786 confirmed cases of COVID-19.

Dallas Libraries Not Reopening For Now

Mayor Eric Johnson says libraries in Dallas are not included on the list of businesses re-opening Friday.

Eric Johnson said library staff were still developing safety measures before welcoming residents back.

Still, Johnson says some library services are still available.

"Throughout this crisis, many of our library services have been available this entire time to our residents," he said. "Those include access to e-books, book discussion, story times and adult learning opportunities."

Johnson said the city is also in preliminary talks to reopen the Dallas Zoo and Dallas Arboretum, though no dates were announced.

NorthPark Center To Reopen With Limitations

Dallas' NorthPark Center is reopening today with reduced hours, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and only the Park Lane and Northwest Highway main entrances will be available. The Dallas Morning News is reporting that the shopping center is planning to follow the government guideline of 25% capacity.

Beginning Monday, NorthPark's Neiman Marcus store will be open for private appointments only, according to the News. Staff members will wear masks, have their temperatures checked and additional sanitzation steps are being taken for high-touch areas of the store.

Collin County Reports 1 Death, 41 New Cases

Collin County Health Care Services is reporting 41 new cases of COVID-19, including 8 in Plano. This brings the countywide number of confirmed cases to 766, including 219 in Plano.

The county also reported the death of an 88-year-old McKinney man from the disease. He was the 22nd death from COVID-19 in Collin County.

Cruz Seeks More Federal Help For Small Businesses

U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz says he plans to file a bill allowing chambers of commerce to access money from the Paycheck Protection Program.

The program provides loans and grants to small businesses struggling to stay afloat amid a nationwide shutdown to slow the spread of coronavirus, but local chambers of commerce can't apply for the additional $310 billion Congress allocated to the program last week.

The Dallas Morning News reports Cruz views the thousands of chambers across the U.S. as critical to helping small businesses recover from the economic damage of the coronavirus pandemic once the economy can reopen.

Texas Dental Board Revises Emergency Rules

The state dental board has revised emergency rules that allow dental offices to resume elective procedures and non-urgent care today.

The Dallas Morning News reports the change calls for wearing advanced surgical masks within six feet of patients to capture “aerosols” that might carry coronavirus.

However, the State Board of Dental Examiners ignored a plea from a dental hygienist group to delay routine visits until at least May 18. The CDC still recommends postponing dental care indefinitely, calling it risky in the age of COVID-19.

Collin County Reports 21st Death 

An 84-year-old McKinney man with COVID-19 died on Thursday at Medical City McKinney, according to Collin County. That marks the 21st death countywide. 

The county reported 14 new cases on Thursday, for a total of 724.

Dallas County Reports 179 New Cases, 5 Deaths

Dallas County Health and Human Services reported 179 additional COVID-19 cases, the most in a single day in the county so far. The countywide total is now at 3,531 cases. Five more deaths were also reported, for a total of 104 countywide:

• A Balch Springs man in his 20s who had been critically ill in an area hospital
• A Dallas man in his 60s who had been hospitalized
• A Dallas man in his 70s who was a resident of a long-term care facility and had underlying health conditions
• A Dallas woman in her 80s who was a resident of a long-term care facility and had been critically ill in a hospital
• A Dallas woman in her 90s who was a resident of a long-term care facility and had been hospitalized

Tarrant County Reporting 97 New Cases, 7 Deaths

Tarrant County Public Health reported 97 new cases of COVID-19, which brings the countywide total to 2,246. The county also reported seven additional deaths. 

The deceased include three men in their 70s, a woman in her 80s, a man in his 50s, a woman in her 90s and a woman in her 80s — all residents of Fort Worth.

Nearly 70 deaths have been reported countywide.

Denton County Reports 17 New Cases, 1 Death

Denton County Public Health reported 17 new COVID-19 cases and one additional death on Thursday. The deceased man, who was over the age of 80, was a resident of the Denton Rehabilitation Center. He was previously isolated in a hospital. Twenty-one people have died in Denton County due to COVID-19. Countywide, there have been 765 cases in Denton County.

Dallas To Reopen Golf Courses, Tennis Centers

Beginning May 1, the city of Dallas is reopening golf courses, tennis facilities, Elm Fork range and some outdoor fee-based programs. Each facility will have specific usage restrictions.

Dallas Park and Recreation runs six 18-hole golf courses, five tennis centers and the Elm Fork Range. Facilities and outdoor programs set to reopen will adhere to strict physical distancing as well as safe, sanitary protocols. Operating restrictions for these areas can be found at DallasParks.org.

Survey Shows Dallas Businesses Foresee Working From Home

A Dallas Regional Chamber survey finds that 85% of member businesses anticipate working from home longer than what is required or recommended by the government, while 77% foresee requiring more work from home flexibility for employees.

The survey also found that 43% of companies with fewer than 500 employees benefited from federal support programs. In addition, more than 2/3 of respondents said they feel they have sufficient information, resources and equipment to begin operating safely in the next 30 days.

Most businesses responding to the survey employ people in Dallas County, and most respondents employ more than 500 people. The chamber's survey garnered about 100 responses.

Fed Survey Shows 40% Of Texas Service Sector Businesses Experiencing Layoffs Due To COVID-19

The Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas conducts a monthly survey to assess activity in the Texas service sector, which represents almost 70% of the state's economy In this month’s survey both sales and wages are down across the board.

More than 300 high-level service and retail sector employees were asked special questions about the impact of the coronavirus. Of those surveyed, 40% are laying off employees and half are cutting employee's hours.

Their responses showed that revenue in the service industry has ticked up slightly from last month's all time low, but associate economist Chris Slijk said he expects to see further declines.

“Firms remain very pessimistic, with a majority of firms expecting broader economic conditions to worsen compared to March,” Slijk said.

Wages and prices also posted the steepest declines since the Great Recession. 

Meanwhile the retail sales saw a modest increase, but employment fell to a record low — with over half of respondents laying off workers.

“Outlooks remain negative, with close to 85% of retailers noting a worsening outlook compared to last month,” Slijk said. 

UNT Dallas To Host Mobile Food Pantry Today

The North Texas Food Bank is holding a drive-through food pantry event from 9 a.m. to noon today.

Dallas, Fort Worth Schools Plan Virtual Graduations

School officials say thousands of Dallas and Fort Worth seniors will mark their high school graduations with virtual ceremonies.

The Dallas school district will hold 37 ceremonies between May 22 and 31.

Each student will receive a customized banner to display at home.

Fort Worth ISD will hold 21 graduations online over several days in June. Students will be able to share photos of themselves in cap and gown as well as personalized messages when they move their tassel to signify that they are new graduates.

State Orders Beaches To Reopen Tomorrow

The Texas General Land Office has ordered all of the state’s public beaches to reopen by tomorrow.

The city of Galveston announced that decision yesterday.

The move comes days after Gov. Abbott issued an executive order allowing certain businesses to reopen by tomorrow.

The order also gives the green light for outdoor activities as long as “necessary precautions are maintained” to minimize the transmission of COVID-19.

SMU Faculty, Staff To Come Back To Work June 1

Southern Methodist University plans to have all its employees back on the Dallas campus by June 1st.

Most have worked remotely since the university shut down most on-campus operations in March.

A letter from President Gerald Turner to staff said SMU plans to begin bringing them back on campus May 18. Barring further orders by state or county officials, employees wanting to return to campus that day may do so.

SXSW Sued Over Refusal To Give Refunds

A class-action lawsuit has been filed over South by Southwest's refusal to offer refunds for its conference and festival in Austin.

The event scheduled last month was called off because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Dallas Morning News reports a statement Saturday from South by Southwest officials said the event's in a dire financial situation. They also pointed to fine print stating the festival doesn’t issue refunds “under any circumstances.”

The event's website says festival registrants can “defer” this year’s admission price to next year's festival or events in 2022 or 2023.

The two registrants from Colorado and Massachusetts who filed the lawsuit said they don’t necessarily plan to attend SXSW in the future. They want refunds and “equitable monetary relief” now. They say they spent more than $1,000 on conference badges and other expenses.

Read the full story from The Dallas Morning News.

Dallas County Reporting 112 More Cases

Dallas County Health and Human Services is reporting an additional 112 cases of COVID-19 and five more deaths. The total number of cases in Dallas County now stands at 3,352 with 99 deaths.

The five deaths include:

• A Dallas man in his 50s who had been hospitalized
• A Mesquite man in his 60s who had been critically ill in an area hospital
• A Balch Springs man in his 60s who was a resident of a long-term care facility and had been criticall ill in an area hospital
• A Dallas woman in her 90s who was a a resident of a long-term care facility and had been hospitalized
• A Dallas man in his 90s who was a resident of a long-term care facility and had been hospitalized

Tarrant County Reporting 61 New Cases, 3 More Deaths

Tarrant County Public Health is reporting three COVID-19 deaths and 61 new cases.

The deaths include two Fort Worth women, one in her 90s and one in her 30s, and a Grapevine woman in her 70s. All had underlying health conditions.

Denton County Reports 10 New Cases

Denton County Public Health is reporting 10 new confirmed cases of COVID-19. This increases the countywide total number of cases to 748.

Collin County Reports 18 New Cases, 1 Death

Collin County is reporting 18 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the countywide total to 710.

Authorities are reporting the death of an 83-year-old Plano woman last night. According to a press release, the woman had underlying health conditions.

The Galleria Mall Will Open Monday, May 4, And Shoppers Will Be Required To Wear Masks

One of North Texas' most prominent shopping malls will reopen next week, a few days after the state stay-at-home order expires today.

Galleria Dallas will open Monday, the mall said through a representative in an email to media. At first there will be limited hours: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday.

Retailers will have the option to reopen at their discretion, and they can continue doing "retail-to-go" if they choose, the email said.

Mall practices and the shopping experience will be temporarily modified:

• All visitors and employees will be required to wear face masks.
• Food court seating will be removed and food must be taken to-go.
• The Children's Play Place will be closed.
• The mall's concierge services, like curbside delivery and package check, won't be offered.
• Common area seating will be removed or spaced for social distancing.

UNT Dallas To Host Mobile Food Pantry Tomorrow

The North Texas Food Bank is holding a drive-through food pantry event from 9 a.m. to noon on Thursday, April 30.

Plano Libraries To Offer Limited Services Beginning Monday

Beginning May 4, Plano public libraries will open all book drops. Items that are currently checked out will be due starting the week of June 1. All libraries will offer porchside pick-up of items on hold and the returns of specialty items.

Fort Worth Inmate Who Had C-Section While On Ventilator Dies

An inmate at the Federal Medical Center Carswell prison in Fort Worth died Tuesday, a month after she was hospitalized with COVID-19 symptoms and delivered a baby by cesarean section while on a ventilator.

The Federal Bureau of Prisons said Andrea Circle Bear, 30, was from the Cheyenne River Sioux reservation in Eagle Butte, South Dakota. She'd pleaded guilty to a federal methamphetamine charge, and was transferred from a local prison to the Fort Worth medical center on March 20.

She's the 29th inmate to die in Bureau of Prisons custody since late March. More than 1,700 federal inmates have tested positive for COVID-19.

Tarrant County Officials Say Facility-Related Deaths Are Up

County officials say they've seen a spike in facility-related COVID-19 cases. 

County Commissioner Roy Brooks said the word "facilities" includes jails and prisons, nursing homes, rehab centers and any other long-term living spaces.

"All of these are places where people have limited to no choice about being there,” Brooks said. “These are places where social distancing is very difficult to achieve.” 

Gov. Greg Abbott's plan to re-open the Texas economy lays out specific steps for slowing the spread in these places.

Those include increased testing, isolating individuals with the virus and limiting staff from traveling between different facilities.

6th Texas Execution Delayed; Attorneys Cite Pandemic

The state criminal appeals court has delayed a sixth execution in Texas.

Edward Lee Busby was scheduled to receive a lethal injection May 6th. That's now on hold for 60 days.

The appeals court order didn't give a reason, but Busby’s attorneys argued for delaying the execution because of the dangers from the pandemic. 

Busby went to death row for the killing of a retired 77-year-old college professor abducted in Fort Worth.

Most Dallas Movie Theaters Staying Closed — For Now

Many large movie theater chains are saying they won't reopen on Friday, despite Gov. Greg Abbott’s plan allowing movie theaters and other businesses to reopen with limited occupancy.

The Dallas Morning News reports Cinemark, Studio Movie Grill and Alamo Drafthouse locations will remain closed until further notice.

The theater chains are citing health concerns for both customers and staff.

AMC and Cinemark theaters say they're preparing for a midsummer opening. 

Read the full story from The Dallas Morning News.

Fort Worth Inmate Who Had C-Section While On Ventilator Dies

An inmate at the Federal Medical Center Carswell prison in Fort Worth died Tuesday, a month after she was hospitalized with COVID-19 symptoms and delivered a baby by cesarean section while on a ventilator.

The Federal Bureau of Prisons said Andrea Circle Bear, 30, was from the Cheyenne River Sioux reservation in Eagle Butte, South Dakota. She'd pleaded guilty to a federal methamphetamine charge, and was transferred from a local prison to the Fort Worth medical center on March 20.

She's the 29th inmate to die in Bureau of Prisons custody since late March. More than 1,700 federal inmates have tested positive for COVID-19.

Dallas County Ties Deadliest Day; County Judge Responds To Reopening Plan

Dallas County tied its deadliest day yet in the coronavirus crisis: 10 people died, including a 17-year old girl from Lancaster.

In an afternoon press conference, Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins said that based on the numbers, the county might not see its peak in cases until next week.

The milestone came a day after Gov. Abbott unveiled plans to reopen Texas starting Friday. 

Jenkins said it's up to residents to take the necessary precautions when visiting movie theaters, restaurants and other businesses.

“It's up to all of you — both business owners and individuals — to make really good personal responsibility choices," he said. "The governor's orders have changed yesterday but the underlying science has not."

Jenkins said there are no plans to enforce fines or health inspections of business that don't follow Abbott's guidelines of social distancing and temperature checks.

Dallas Meat Processing Plant Shuts Down After 2 Workers Die Of COVID-19

With President Trump poised to order meat processing plants to stay open, a plant in West Dallas is shut down after two of its workers died of COVID-19 in the last few days.

On Tuesday, family members of one of the victims blamed Quality Sausage Company for not closing earlier, as soon as there were signs of infection among employees.

“It’s very hard for us and I think this is unfair,” said Blanca Parra Gonzalez, the longtime partner of Hugo Dominguez, who died Saturday. “This COVID-19 is the worst thing that’s happened in this world. It’s not fair that my kids no longer have their dad.”

Read the full story from KERA's Stella M. Chávez.

Dallas County Reports 135 More Cases, 10 Deaths

Dallas County Health and Human Services is reporting 135 additional positive COVID-19 cases, bringing the county total to 3,240.

Ten additional deaths are also being reported. They include:

• A 17-year-old girl from Lancaster, who died at an area hospital ER
• A Dallas man in his 30s who died at an area hospital ER
• A Garland man in his 30s who had been critically ill in an area hospital
• A Carrollton man in his 40s who had been critically ill in an area hospital
• A Lancaster man in his 40s who had been critically ill in an area hospital
• A man in his 60s who was an inmate at a state correctional facility and had been hospitalized
• A Dallas man in his 70s who had been critically ill at an area hospital
• A Dallas woman in her 70s who was a resident of a long-term health care facility and had been critically ill in an area hospital
• A Dallas man in his 80s who was a resident of a long-term care facility
• A Dallas man in his 90s who was a resident of a long-term care facility and had been hospitalized

Tarrant County Reports 5 Deaths, 69 New Cases

Tarrant County Public Health is reporting five COVID-19 deaths. They include two Fort Worth men in their 60s, two Arlington women — one in her 90s and one in her 70s — and one Grapevine man in his 80s. These deaths bring the county's total to 58.

Tarrant County is also reporting 69 news cases, which brings the total to 2088.

Denton County Reports 14 New Cases

Denton County Public Health is reporting 13 new confirmed cases of COVID-19. This brings the number of countywide total cases to 738.

Federal Judge Denies Release Of Dallas County Inmates

A federal judge has said no to releasing inmates from the Dallas County Jail amid an outbreak of coronavirus — 153 inmates have tested positive so far.

Lawyers for the nine plaintiffs told The Dallas Morning News they hope a forthcoming explanation from U.S. District Judge Ada Brown will explain that decision.

The lawsuit said Dallas County inmates can't physically distance themselves from others and have little access to soap or face masks. Mostare being held on drug-related charges and have underlying health issues.

The sheriff last week in court argued new sanitation and isolation policies in the jail were working, and that granting the inmates’ requests to release inmates would harm public safety.

Read the full story from The Dallas Morning News.

Critical Care Decontamination System Coming To Fort Worth

Fort Worth will be home to a N95 filtration mask decontamination unit. It will be a regional hub serving Texans from East Texas to the Panhandle by inspecting and decontaminating up to 80,000 masks every 24 hours.

Battelle Memorial Institute, a private nonprofit science and technology development company, was approved by the FDA to clean N95 masks to help maintain inventory. Battelle is working in conjucntion with the Department of State Health Services, the North Central texas Trauma Regional Advisory Council and the city of Fort Worth.

McKinney Man, 90, Plano Man, 102, Die From COVID-19

A 90-year-old McKinney man with underlying health conditions and COVID-19 died this morning at an assisted living center. A Plano man, 102, died at the Life Care Center of Plano. He had underlying health conditions and COVID-19. As of Tuesday morning, Collin County Health Care Services is reporting 676 cases of COVID-19. Today's deaths brings the county's total to 18.

New Fund To Help Fort Worth Artists 'Heal Through Art'

A new $100,000 initiative will help cash-strapped Fort Worth-area artists by awarding grants to them to create visual artworks addressing the COVID-19 pandemic.

Called “The New Normal,” the fund is intended to help both Fort Worth’s creative economy and the city’s wider community by providing income for local artists and by culturally processing the current crisis. Ninety-five percent of American artists have lost income because of the economic effects of the coronavirus pandemic — while two-thirds of artists have lost their jobs, period.

The grants of $2000 or $5000 will be awarded by a panel of eight judges made up of directors and curators from such institutions as the Kimbell Art Museum, the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth and the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame. The creators of The fund hope their model of "healing through art" will be adapted by other cities. 

Read the whole story at Art & Seek.

3rd Trinity Metro Bus Driver Tests Positive

A third bus driver for Trinity Metro in Fort Worth has tested positive for coronavirus.

The driver's been under self-quarantine since April 2.

The transit agency said in a statement the driver operated on Route 14 on April 5 and 6, April 10-12 and April 16-20.

Any passengers who rode Route 14 on these dates should monitor themselves for possible symptoms, contact their healthcare provider if any symptoms develop, and self-quarantine to avoid possibly exposing others.

A second Trinity Metro bus operator tested positive for COVID-19 Sunday.

The first driver began self-quarantining March 22. He's fully recovered and is back at work.

Restaurants, Malls, Retail Stores Can Reopen May 1, Gov. Abbott Says

Retail stores, restaurants, movie theaters and malls can reopen Friday provided they limit occupancy to no more than 25%, Gov. Greg Abbott said Monday.

Reopening must occur in phases, he said. "We're not just going to open up and hope for the best."

Abbott said it was not yet safe for salons, barber shops, bars and gyms to open, but that if the community continues safe distancing practices to tamp down new COVID-19 cases, they could be allowed to open in mid-May.

The governor's order supercedes all local orders. He noted, however, that whether businesses reopen is up to them; it is not mandatory. 

Denton County Public Health Announces 12 New Cases 

Denton County Public Health reported 12 new cases of COVID-19, increasing the countywide total to 725. 

The number of infected residents at the Denton State Supported Living Center remains at 54 and the total countywide long-term care facility residents remains at 19. 

Collin County Reports 13 New Cases 

Collin County Public Health announced 13 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of cases in the county to 676. 

There have been 17 confirmed deaths related to COVID-19 in the county. 

Dallas County Reports 2 More Deaths, 91 New Cases

Two more people diagnosed with COVID-19 in Dallas County have died, bringing the total number of deaths in the county to 84.

County health officials report the additional deaths include a Dallas man in his 40s and a Richardson woman in her 70s who lived at a long-term care facility.

Of the deaths reported to date, about 40% have been associated with long-term care facilities.

There are 91 additional positive cases of the disease in the county today, bringing the total case count in Dallas County to 3,105.

“Today’s numbers do not take into account any cases from labs that were closed on Sunday. After we see numbers for tomorrow and Wednesday, we should get a glimpse into which way this week is trending,” said Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins. “I’m hopeful the Governor’s announcement of the additional businesses he wants to open will be in alignment with the CDC, Public Health Authorities and the Epidemiology and Infectious Disease Departments of DFW, Harris County and other Texas urban area hospital systems.” 

Tarrant County Reports 72 New Cases

The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Tarrant County is now 2,019 after county health officials reported 72 new cases of the disease Monday. There have been 53 deaths related to the disease in the county.

The largest share of cases in Tarrant County have been in Fort Worth. There have been 847 cases reported in the city and 31 deaths. Arlington has reported 384 cases and four deaths.

Tarrant County Launches Self-Screening Online

Tarrant County has launched a new COVID-19 self-screening website it’s piloting this week.

County residents can visit the site and answer screening questions — including questions about symptoms and whether or not you’ve come in contact with a person who’s tested positive for COVID-19. 

If the assessment meets certain criteria, the online tool will set up a testing appointment at the closest available in-person testing site. This week, the county says appointments will be “very limited” as they work on upping testing capacity and make sure the tool’s functioning properly.

Over the next several weeks, Tarrant County says it plans to open more testing sites and increase available appointments.

In a news release Sunday, Tarrant County Judge Glen Whitley said “As we begin planning for reopening, it’s vitally important that we have more testing. These sites are going to be critical to helping us open up the county.”

Despite Economic Blow, Texas Voters Overwhelmingly Approve Of Business Closures, Stay-At-Home Orders

According to the latest Univ. of Texas and Texas Tribune poll, two-thirds of Texas voters agree with decisions by Gov. Greg Abbott and local officials to close nonessential businesses. 

Over three-quarters of voters surveyed support stay-at-home orders except for essential activities. 

The poll's findings come as Abbott is expected to make an announcement today on the state's next steps in reopening the economy.

Read the full story from The Texas Tribune.

City Of Dallas Faces Budget Shortfall Due To Pandemic

The city of Dallas is projecting a big budget shortfall due to the coronavirus outbreak. That will likely lead to cuts in staff and services.

Officials say they’re $25 million under budget, in part due to plummeting sales tax revenues.

Visit Dallas, the city’s convention and visitors bureau, has slashed its budget forecast for the year by 42% after several big events were cancelled due to the outbreak.

Fort Worth’s Plan To Adapt Summer Programs Due To COVID-19

Fort Worth officials say their summer programming will look different because of the coronavirus outbreak.

The city will not hold its nine-week Summer Day camp – but officials are planning for alternative experiences, like mini-camps, once stay-at-home orders are lifted.

The Mobile Recreation program will be offered at two sites instead of four. And participation will likely be limited to 50.

Pools at Forest and Marine Park will remain closed. Officials say it’s possible they’ll reopen later this summer. 

Summer leagues for both adult and youth sports – have been suspended for now. Events planned in August, like The Fort Worth Cup soccer tournament and the Fort Worth Classic softball tournament, are still on the schedule for now.

The Mayor's Summer Reading challenge will be offered online, as well as library services including computer courses and Spanish classes.

Dallas County Exceeds 3,000 Cases, Reports 82nd Death

Dallas County is reporting 105 new COVID-19 cases bringing the total number of cases confirmed in the county to over 3,000.

County health officials are also reporting the 82nd death related to the disease — a Dallas man in his 50s who was found dead at home.

According to officials, 40% of reported deaths have been associated with long-term care facilities, and a third of those hospitalized with COVID-19 have diabetes.

Tarrant County Reports 111 New Cases, 53rd Death

Tarrant County is reporting 111 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the countywide total to 1,947 confirmed cases of the disease.

County health officials are also reporting another death, a Fort Worth man who was in his 70s.

There have been 53 deaths related to the coronavirus in the county, and according to health officials, 283 people have recovered.

McKinney Woman's Death Is The 17th Related To COVID-19 In Collin County

Public health officials in Collin County report that a 91-year-old McKinney woman with COVID-19 and underlying health conditions died today at an elderly care facility. She is the 17th county resident diagnosed with the disease to die.

Today, county health officials reported nine new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the county to 663. According to officials, 459 of those individuals had recovered, and 23 are hospitalized.

11 New Cases In Denton County 

Denton County is reporting 11 new cases of COVID-19 in the county. This increases the cumulative, countywide total to 713 confirmed cases of the disease. 

County health officials report over 330 people have recovered from the disease in the county. The number of cases among residents of the Denton State Supported Living Center remains 54. The number among residents of long-term care facilities in the county remains 19.

Texas Tops 24,000 Cases, 630 Deaths

As of Sunday morning, there have been over 24,600 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Texas, and at least 650 people in the state with the virus have died. More than 6,205 of Texas’ cases and at least 169 deaths are in North Texas.

There have been over 950,000 confirmed cases in the U.S. and nearly 55,000 deaths related to the disease.

Rockwall County Reports 1st Death

Officials say a resident of a long-term care facility in Rockwall County has died, becoming the county’s first reported death related to the coronavirus. 

According to local NBC affiliate KXAS, the individual was a resident of Broadmoor Medical Lodge, where six residents and one staff member have tested positive for COVID-19.

Read More: A Timeline Of COVID-19 In North Texas