COVID-19 In DFW June 28-July 4: Cases Continue To Surge In North Texas

The coronavirus pandemic continues to surge in North Texas. “Today we have our highest number of reported cases of COVID-19 in Dallas County," said Judge Clay Jenkins. "This weekend for the first time, our weekend reporting numbers went up.

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

Dallas County Reports Record High Of 1,103 Cases

A record 1,103 cases is the highest number of daily cases reported yet in the county. This brings the countywide total to 24,778. Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins encouraged residents to continue taking precautions during the July Fourth weekend: 

“Today we reached 1,100 new cases for the first time. It took us 92 days to reach 300 cases, 22 days to reach the next 400 more cases at 700 cases and 2 days to reach another 400 cases at 1,100. I appreciate the spirit of the people of North Texas, that they have moved from our understandable selfish desire to enjoy our 4th of July traditions to being sacrificial and keeping their celebrations to their household only. This is necessary because of the out-of-control spread that we are now experiencing with COVID-19.” 

Jenkins also urged Gov. Abbott to implement new measures, including closing certain businesses, to prevent the spread of the virus: 

“Eight days ago I sent Governor Abbott a letter with a list of requests from local health leaders for action to control the spread of COVID-19. While the Governor did move to a statewide masking mandate and addressed crowd size at the request of 10 people, there are still matters left to address in the letter, such as the pausing of select businesses where masks cannot be worn 100% of the time. I urge the Governor to reconsider these medical requests and everyone to avoid the places on the attached letter as if they were closed during this time of rampant spread. I hope everyone is having a good 4th of July weekend. This 4th of July is different but I hope that it is rewarding for you and your family,” said Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins.”

Two deaths have been reported today: 

• A man in his 70s who was a resident of the City of Balch Springs. He died in an area hospital, and had underlying high risk health conditions.
• A woman in her 80s who was a resident of a long-term care facility in the City of Dallas. She died at home, and had no known underlying high risk health conditions.

95 New Cases In Denton County

Another 95 cases in the county brings the total to 3,279. Included in today’s cases are 11 inmates at the Denton County Jail and one person at a long-term care facility. 

“DCPH continues to coordinate with facilities impacted by COVID-19,” Dr. Matt Richardson, director of Denton County Public Health said. “Given the congregate nature of long-term care facilities and jails, these populations are at a higher risk of infectious disease spread.”

The Denton County Sheriff’s Office and Denton County Public Health are working on minimizing exposure at the jail and have isolated the inmates who have tested positive.

The additional patient who tested positive at a long-term care facility raises the countywide LTCF case total to 27.

Collin County Reports 88 More Cases 

With 88 additional cases reported today, the countywide total is now 3,409. There have been 46 deaths and 2,659 patients who have recovered from the virus in the area.

Dallas County Reports Record-Breaking 1,085 New Cases 

New confirmed cases spiked above 1,000 for the first time, bringing the countywide total to 23,675. County Judge Clay Jenkins said there's no doubt the virus is surging:

“Today we reached 1,000 new cases for the first time and are reporting six deaths. So far this week, we’ve seen a jump in the average number of daily cases from 451 last week to 680 this week and have recorded 42 deaths, our deadliest week thus far. Remember that because it is taking up to 10 days to get back much of the test results, the situation we are seeing with the rise in positive cases is not what is happening today, but what was happening a week or more ago."

He urged residents to wear masks and follow social distancing guidelines through the holiday weekend: 

"It is imperative that we do not repeat the spike in cases we saw after Easter/Passover and Memorial Day. Please celebrate the 4th of July with your household only, meaning those you are around and in close contact with daily. Please do not celebrate the 4th of July with extended family or friend groups, and if you must be around other people, always wear a mask.”

All six of the new deaths reported were people with underlying high-risk health conditions; most were in the hospital.

• A man in his 60s from Grand Prairie.
• An Irving woman in her 60s.
• A Garland woman in her 60s.
• A Farmers Branch man in his 70s who died in a hospital emergency room.
• An Irving man in his 70s.
• A Dallas woman in her 90s who died in hospice care.    

122 New Cases In Collin County 

Another 122 cases in the county brings the total to 3,321. There have been 45 deaths and 2,583 people who have recovered in the area. 

Denton County Report High Of 152 New Cases

A record 152 new cases in the county brings the total to 3,184. There have been 37 total deaths in the area. 

“Today we are reporting our highest number of COVID-19 cases in a single day,” Dr. Matt Richardson, director of Denton County Public Health, said in a statement. “Although the holiday weekend is upon us, we ask you to limit contact with individuals outside your household, wear a mask, and stay physically distant.” 

American, Other Major Airlines Reach Tentative Loan Agreements With The Government

Five airlines including Fort Worth-based American have reached tentative agreements for new loans from the government to help them survive the coronavirus pandemic.

The Treasury Department said yesterday it had letters of intent with American, Spirit, Frontier, Hawaiian and SkyWest.

Those and all other leading U.S. airlines previously accepted a combination of grants and loans to help cover payroll costs through September 30.

These five are the first to take loans from a separate $25 billion package that Congress set aside to help companies hurt by the pandemic.

Air travel in the U.S. dropped about 95% by mid-April. It has recovered slowly but remains down about 75% from a year ago. 

Texas Medical Association Withdraws As GOP Convention Advertiser

The Republican Party of Texas is moving ahead with its in-person convention, leading a prominent advertiser to drop out.

In a statement on Twitter, Texas Medical Association President Diana Fite said the Houston gathering “poses a significant health risk to conventiongoers, convention workers, health care workers, and the residents of Houston,” even after a mandate from Gov. Greg Abbott that most people wear masks at public gatherings.

Fite did say the TMA was “pleased” the convention would comply with the mask order.

The convention will start with meetings on July 13th, with a larger general session set to start on the 16th. 

The state GOP’s Executive Committee voted Thursday night to move forward with the in-person convention. A statement from the party said the event would have thermal scanners, deep cleaning, hand sanitizer stations and other safety precautions.

The Texas Medical Association represents tens of thousands of doctors and med students. It says it gave $5,000 dollars to both the Republican Party of Texas and the state Democratic Party, which held a virtual convention in June.

Dallas County Launches Housing Assistance Program

Dallas County has launched an Emergency Housing Assistance Program for residents facing economic hardship because of COVID-19.

The program is aimed at providing short-term assistance for Dallas County residents living outside the City of Dallas. It'll help cover expenses like rent, mortgage and utility bills.

At a news briefing yesterday, Dallas County Director of Health and Human Services Dr. Philip Huang said a lottery system will be used to distribute the aid.

"You know, there's no advantage if someone has faster internet, if you have to use a phone to access it, you're not at a disadvantage,” Huang said. “Everyone who gets in during that time will be in the lottery system."

Residents have until July 9 to apply. Applications can be submitted at dallascounty.org or by phone at 214-819-1968.

Gov. Greg Abbott Issues Statewide Mask Requirement 

Abbott's Thursday afternoon order requires Texas residents in counties with 20 or more positive COVID-19 cases to wear masks when in public. 

The order takes effect Friday at 12:01 p.m. 

The mandate includes exceptions for kids under 10, those with health conditions or people eating or drinking. 

Until now, Abbott has resisted calls for a statewide mask requirement and has allowed local officials to decide.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRZdTKxeAvE&feature=emb_title 

Dallas County Reports Record 708 Cases, Surging Past Previous High

A record 708 cases today brings the countywide total to 22,590. An increasing number of cases have been diagnosed in young adults from the ages of 18 to 39. Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins said case numbers are accelerating at a concerning rate. He urged residents to socially distance during the 4th of July weekend. 

“Today we reached 700 new COVID-19 cases for the first time and 387 total deaths. It took 92 days to reach 300 COVID-19 cases and it has taken 22 days since then to reach 700," Jenkins said. "The situation we have right now is significant and accelerating community spread. We cannot afford another statewide letdown in our strong personal responsibility COVID-19 protection choices, so this Fourth of July, celebrate with your nuclear family and avoid crowds and extended family gatherings." 

Dallas County expects to report more than 1,000 new cases Friday.

"We can not have another memorial day after this July Fourth weekend," Dr. Philip Huang, director of Dallas County Health and Human Services, said. "If that happens it will be catastrophic."

Seven deaths were reported today:

• A man in his 40s who was a resident of the City of Irving. He had been critically ill in an area hospital, and had underlying high risk health conditions.
• A man in his 50s who was a resident of the City of Dallas. He had been critically ill in an area hospital, and did not have underlying high risk health conditions.
• A man in his 50s who was a resident of the City of Dallas. He had been critically ill in an area hospital, and had underlying high risk health conditions.
• A woman in her 60s who was a resident of the City of Irving. She had been critically ill in an area hospital, and had underlying high risk health conditions.
• A woman in her 60s who was a resident of the City of Dallas. She had been hospitalized.
• A woman in her 70s who was a resident of the City of Dallas. She had been hospitalized, and had underlying high risk health conditions.
• A man in his 90s who was a resident of the City of Dallas. He had been critically ill in an area hospital, and had underlying high risk health conditions.

473 New Cases In Tarrant County

An additional 473 cases in the county raises the total to 13,423. There have been 233 deaths and 5,517 people who have recovered from the virus in the area. 

Collin County Reports 86 New Cases 

There are 86 additional daily cases, bringing the countywide total to 3,199. A total of 45 deaths have been reported in the area. 

81 New Confirmed Cases In Denton County Thursday

There are 81 new cases in Denton County today. This increases the cumulative, countywide total to 3,032 confirmed COVID-19 cases, including 37 deaths. County health officials are also reporting 26 new recoveries, increasing the countywide recovery total to 1,190.

League Of United Latin American Citizens Urges Gov. Abbott To Take Tougher Actions Against COVID-19

The League of United Latin American Citizens, or LULAC, is urging Texas Gov. Greg Abbott to implement tougher actions to slow down the spread of the coronavirus.

In a letter to Abbott, LULAC’s national president, Domingo Garcia, said the organization has declared a statewide public health emergency.

“LULAC has been raising the alarm now for months and yet we have seen little to no action from our national, state and federal governments,” he said. “People are dying. It’s time that we stop play blue and red politics, and we start playing about American lives. And here in Texas, that means we take care of all our Texans.” 

The disease has disproportionately affected Latinos. In Dallas and Harris counties, Latinos account for more than 60% of positive COVID-19 cases. In Bexar County, it’s more than 73%. 

LULAC is asking the governor to issue an executive order mandating that everyone in the state wear a mask. 

It wants violators to be fined $500 and says local public health workers and fire department staff could enforce that instead of police.

Federal Officials Plan To ‘Blitz’ Test Young Adults In The State

Federal officials are planning a "blitz" of testing in Texas, focused on young adults who're asymptomatic and unknowingly spreading COVID-19.

The Dallas Morning News reports those under 35 in "moderate sized" communities will be the target.

The new initiative comes as new coronavirus cases and hospitalizations are surging in Texas to their highest levels since the pandemic began.

It's unknown when this testing initiative will begin or how officials would ensure compliance.

Texas State Prisons Accept Inmates For The First Time In Months

State prisons in Texas began accepting inmates from county jails for the first time in nearly three months.

The Texas Department of Criminal Justice halted intakes in an effort to reduce the spread of the coronavirus in its facilities.

Spokesperson Jeremy Desel said the agency is taking a number of precautions as it restarts the process.

"It will be very limited to just 250 offenders a week coming in statewide from various counties,” he said. “We will be starting with counties that don't show any evidence of COVID-19 within their county jail systems."

The intake process for all county jail inmates will take place at the Garza West Unit in Beeville, where they will undergo a 14-day quarantine.

Since the pandemic began, more than 8,800 Texas prison inmates have tested positive for COVID-19.

Austin City Limits Joins Other Cancelled Music Festivals This Year

Austin City Limits has joined the ranks of other major music festivals that have been canceled because of the coronavirus. 

Festival organizers said in a statement yesterday that scrapping the three-day October event was “the only responsible solution.” 

The festival is one of the largest in the country. The Coachella music festival in California and Bonnaroo festival in Tennessee will also not take place this year. 

Denton County Announced 106 New Cases 

There are 106 new cases in the county, bringing the countywide total to 2,951. Another 11 people have recovered from the virus, raising the countywide recovery total to 1,164. 

544 New Cases In Dallas County

An additional 544 cases in the county brings the total count to 21,882. An increasing number of cases have been linked to daycares, large recreational and social gatherings and long-term care facilities. 

Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins said another surge in cases during the July 4th holiday could push hospitals over capacity and set the economy back further: 

“Today’s seven deaths include a woman in her 20’s and a man in his 50’s with no underlying health conditions, a somber reminder of the dangerous nature of COVID-19 on everyone. Many people are making plans for the 4th of July weekend. We cannot afford another deviation from making good decisions like we saw during Easter/Passover and Memorial Day given the surge in cases we are now seeing.

It was nearly two months from the time I declared a state of emergency and instituted ‘Safer at Home,’ until the daily case numbers began to go down. It was over five weeks from the time the Governor stopped ‘Safer at Home,’ removed requirements, and began opening many more businesses before we began to see a large surge in cases. The only time we’ve seen huge change happen in less than a month has been the increase in the number of cases we saw two weeks after Easter/Passover and two weeks after Memorial Day. That must not happen for this weekend. If it does, our hospitals are at risk of being overrun later, many more people will get sick and die, and our economy will be set back for months. 

Please celebrate the 4th of July with your families and only be around people that you are in close contact with daily. When you are around people other than your family, please wear a mask and keep six foot distance at all times. It’s going to be up to all of us to have a safer 4th of July weekend than we achieved together as a community for Easter/Passover and Memorial Day. Lives depend on it.” 

Seven deaths have been reported today:

• A woman in her 20s who was a resident of the City of Dallas. She had been critically ill in an area hospital, and did not have underlying high risk health conditions.
• A woman in her 40s who was a resident of the City of Dallas. She had been critically ill in an area hospital, and had underlying high risk health conditions.
• A man in his 50s who was a resident of the City of Dallas. He had been hospitalized, and did not have underlying high risk health conditions.
• A woman in her 60s who was a resident of the City of Dallas. She was found deceased at home, and had underlying high risk health conditions.
• A man in his 60s who was a resident of the City of DeSoto. He had been critically ill in an area hospital, and had underlying high risk health conditions.
• A man in his 70s who was a resident of a long-term care facility in the City of Seagoville. He had been critically ill in an area hospital, and had underlying high risk health conditions.
• A woman in her 80s who was a resident of the City of Dallas. She had been hospitalized, and had underlying high risk health conditions.

Collin County Reports 117 New Cases 

Another 117 cases brings the countywide total to 3,114. There have been 43 deaths in the area and 2,396 people have recovered from the virus. 

606 New Cases In Tarrant County

There are 606 more cases, raising the total case count to 12,950. Three deaths were reported today, including a Mansfield man in his 60s and two Fort Worth women, one in her 50s and the other in her 60s. All of the patients had underlying health conditions. 

Health Officials Criticize American Airlines For Booking Full Flights

Infectious disease experts are criticizing American Airlines’ decision to book flights full as the coronavirus continues spreading across the country.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the top infectious disease expert at the National Institutes of Health, questioned the decision. He said transmission of COVID-19 is even more worrisome in the confined space of an airplane.

The Dallas Morning News reported that there is no federal law to mandate face masks or leave middle seats open on commercial airplanes.

But all major airlines now require face masks. Some carriers may also deny travel to passengers who refuse to wear one.

Meanwhile, Dallas-based Southwest Airlines will continue selling planes at two-thirds capacity through September. 

Fireworks Sales Are Booming Despite Show Cancellations

Some 4th of July fireworks shows across North Texas are canceled due to COVID-19.

Rex Nelson, owner of Nelson’s Fireworks, said those cancellations are driving booming sales.

“People are wanting to get out because they’ve been pinned up for so long so everyone is putting on their own show,” he said. “And they are coming out and buying like crazy.”

Nelson is concerned about running out of inventory by the end of 2020. He said most of his fireworks come from China and production in the country stopped when the pandemic started.

“There’s no way they can physically possibly produce enough fireworks by the new year season to fill out all the warehouses to get us back opened up in full blown operation for new years,” he said. 

Most cities across North Texas prohibit the sale of fireworks within city limits.

STAAR Testing Set To Return Next School Year

Standardized testing for students in Texas will return in the upcoming school year.

Despite record numbers of daily COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, Texas plans to reopen schools in August.

Education Commissioner Mike Morath said yesterday that includes the STAAR test; which was suspended when school was closed to combat COVID-19.

The Texas State Teachers Association disagrees with the move and says the tests should be put off at least another year as schools try to figure out how to return to the classroom. 

Denton County Announced 106 New Cases 

There are 106 new cases in the county, bringing the countywide total to 2,951. Another 11 people have recovered from the virus, raising the countywide recovery total to 1,164. 

544 New Cases In Dallas County

An additional 544 cases in the county brings the total count to 21,882. An increasing number of cases have been linked to daycares, large recreational and social gatherings and long-term care facilities. 

Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins said another surge in cases during the July 4th holiday could push hospitals over capacity and set the economy back further: 

“Today’s seven deaths include a woman in her 20’s and a man in his 50’s with no underlying health conditions, a somber reminder of the dangerous nature of COVID-19 on everyone. Many people are making plans for the 4th of July weekend. We cannot afford another deviation from making good decisions like we saw during Easter/Passover and Memorial Day given the surge in cases we are now seeing.

It was nearly two months from the time I declared a state of emergency and instituted ‘Safer at Home,’ until the daily case numbers began to go down. It was over five weeks from the time the Governor stopped ‘Safer at Home,’ removed requirements, and began opening many more businesses before we began to see a large surge in cases. The only time we’ve seen huge change happen in less than a month has been the increase in the number of cases we saw two weeks after Easter/Passover and two weeks after Memorial Day. That must not happen for this weekend. If it does, our hospitals are at risk of being overrun later, many more people will get sick and die, and our economy will be set back for months. 

Please celebrate the 4th of July with your families and only be around people that you are in close contact with daily. When you are around people other than your family, please wear a mask and keep six foot distance at all times. It’s going to be up to all of us to have a safer 4th of July weekend than we achieved together as a community for Easter/Passover and Memorial Day. Lives depend on it.” 

Seven deaths have been reported today:

• A woman in her 20s who was a resident of the City of Dallas. She had been critically ill in an area hospital, and did not have underlying high risk health conditions.
• A woman in her 40s who was a resident of the City of Dallas. She had been critically ill in an area hospital, and had underlying high risk health conditions.
• A man in his 50s who was a resident of the City of Dallas. He had been hospitalized, and did not have underlying high risk health conditions.
• A woman in her 60s who was a resident of the City of Dallas. She was found deceased at home, and had underlying high risk health conditions.
• A man in his 60s who was a resident of the City of DeSoto. He had been critically ill in an area hospital, and had underlying high risk health conditions.
• A man in his 70s who was a resident of a long-term care facility in the City of Seagoville. He had been critically ill in an area hospital, and had underlying high risk health conditions.
• A woman in her 80s who was a resident of the City of Dallas. She had been hospitalized, and had underlying high risk health conditions.

Collin County Reports 117 New Cases 

Another 117 cases brings the countywide total to 3,114. There have been 43 deaths in the area and 2,396 people have recovered from the virus. 

606 New Cases In Tarrant County

There are 606 more cases, raising the total case count to 12,950. Three deaths were reported today, including a Mansfield man in his 60s and two Fort Worth women, one in her 50s and the other in her 60s. All of the patients had underlying health conditions. 

Health Officials Criticize American Airlines For Booking Full Flights

Infectious disease experts are criticizing American Airlines’ decision to book flights full as the coronavirus continues spreading across the country.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the top infectious disease expert at the National Institutes of Health, questioned the decision. He said transmission of COVID-19 is even more worrisome in the confined space of an airplane.

The Dallas Morning News reported that there is no federal law to mandate face masks or leave middle seats open on commercial airplanes.

But all major airlines now require face masks. Some carriers may also deny travel to passengers who refuse to wear one.

Meanwhile, Dallas-based Southwest Airlines will continue selling planes at two-thirds capacity through September. 

Fireworks Sales Are Booming Despite Show Cancellations

Some 4th of July fireworks shows across North Texas are canceled due to COVID-19.

Rex Nelson, owner of Nelson’s Fireworks, said those cancellations are driving booming sales.

“People are wanting to get out because they’ve been pinned up for so long so everyone is putting on their own show,” he said. “And they are coming out and buying like crazy.”

Nelson is concerned about running out of inventory by the end of 2020. He said most of his fireworks come from China and production in the country stopped when the pandemic started.

“There’s no way they can physically possibly produce enough fireworks by the new year season to fill out all the warehouses to get us back opened up in full blown operation for new years,” he said. 

Most cities across North Texas prohibit the sale of fireworks within city limits.

STAAR Testing Set To Return Next School Year

Standardized testing for students in Texas will return in the upcoming school year.

Despite record numbers of daily COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, Texas plans to reopen schools in August.

Education Commissioner Mike Morath said yesterday that includes the STAAR test; which was suspended when school was closed to combat COVID-19.

The Texas State Teachers Association disagrees with the move and says the tests should be put off at least another year as schools try to figure out how to return to the classroom. 

115 New Cases In Collin County 

There are 115 more cases in the county, raising the total case count to 2,997. There have been 42 deaths related to COVID-19 in the area. 

Tarrant County Reports 605 Additional Cases 

An additional 605 cases in the county raises the total to 12,344. There have been 228 COVID-related deaths in the area. 

105 New Cases In Denton County 

There are 105 more cases in the county, bringing the total to 2,845. Another 15 patients have recovered from the virus, raising the countywide recovery total to 1,153. 

Dallas County Reports New High Of 601 Cases, Rising Hospitalizations 

A record 601 cases brings the countywide total to 21,338. The county also reported a new high of 20 deaths today. Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins called on Gov. Abbott to issue a statewide masking requirement after what he called “our deadliest day thus far”:

“Today we’ve surpassed 600 new cases of COVID-19 for the first time, having surpassed 300 cases only 20 days ago. Additionally, this is our deadliest day thus far in the outbreak. Twenty residents are being reported as COVID-19 casualties today, exceeding our previous high of 16 deaths. Finally, our hospitalization numbers continue to increase. Local COVID-19 hospitalizations yesterday were at an all-time high of 619 compared to 296 30 days ago. And regionally, yesterday was an all-time high of 1340 compared to 615 30 days ago. 

The time for decisive action was several weeks ago but we must move immediately to a statewide masking order. Goldman Sachs estimates that a national masking order would save the economy a trillion dollars. When you divide that by the population of Texas, we can save $87 billion dollars to our economy, and countless lives by all wearing a mask. We need this to be a statewide requirement and I am again calling on Governor Abbott to make masks the law throughout Texas.”

Twenty deaths were reported today: 

• A man in his 30s who was a resident of the City of Richardson. He had been critically ill in an area hospital, and had underlying high risk health conditions.
• A man in his 30s who was a resident of the City of Dallas. He was found deceased at home, and did not have underlying high risk health conditions.
• A man in his 40s who was a resident of the City of Dallas. He had been critically ill in an area hospital, and had underlying high risk health conditions.
• A man in his 40s who was a resident of the City of Irving. He had been critically ill in an area hospital, and had underlying high risk health conditions.
• A man in his 40s who was a resident of the City of Dallas. He expired in an area hospital ED, and did not have underlying high risk health conditions.
• A man in his 50s who was a resident of the City of Balch Springs. He had been critically ill in an area hospital, and had underlying high risk health conditions.
• A man in his 50s who was a resident of a long-term care facility in the City of Seagoville. He had been hospitalized, and had underlying high risk health conditions.
• A woman in her 60s who was a resident of the City of Dallas. She had been critically ill in an area hospital, and had underlying high risk health conditions.
• A woman in her 60s who was a resident of a long-term care facility in the City of Garland. She had been critically ill in an area hospital, and had underlying high risk health conditions.
• A man in his 60s who was a resident of the City of Dallas. He had been hospitalized, and had underlying high risk health conditions.
• A man in his 70s who was a resident of the City of Dallas. He expired in an area hospital ED, and did not have underlying high risk health conditions.
• A man in his 70s who was a resident of the City of Dallas. He expired in an area hospital ED, and had underlying high risk health conditions.
• A woman in her 70s who was a resident of the City of Garland. She was found deceased at home, and had underlying high risk health conditions.
• A man in his 70s who was a resident of the City of Dallas. He expired in an area hospital ED, and had underlying high risk health conditions.
• A woman in her 70s who was a resident of the City of Dallas. She had been critically ill in an area hospital, and had underlying high risk health conditions.
• A woman in her 80s who was a resident of the City of Dallas. She had been critically ill in an area hospital, and had underlying high risk health conditions
• A woman in her 80s who was a resident of the City of Dallas. She had been critically ill in an area hospital, and had underlying high risk health conditions.
• A man in his 80s who was a resident of the City of Dallas. He had been hospitalized, and had underlying high risk health conditions.
• A woman in her 90s who was a resident of a long-term care facility in the City of Dallas. She had been hospitalized, and did not have underlying high risk health conditions.
• A woman in her 90s who was a resident of a long-term care facility in the City of Dallas. She had been critically ill in an area hospital, and had underlying high risk health conditions. 

City Of Dallas To Continue Drive-Thru COVID-19 Testing Beyond Federal Support 

The City of Dallas and Dallas County have finalized a contract with the vendor Honu to continue drive-thru COVID-19 testing beyond June. 

The American Airlines Center testing site will close after June 30 while the Ellis Davis Field House will continue federally supported testing through mid-July. A new testing site at the University of Dallas in Irving will open on July 1. 

“We are moving the AAC drive-thru site to the University of Dallas on Wednesday,” Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins said. “Dallas County Health and Human Services will supervise a private vendor with a new lab so the turnaround for results should be faster. Faster results give you the chance to make the best decisions for your health and gives our public health experts more timely information to better advise the community.”

Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson said as COVID-19 spreads rapidly in the community, testing is an important part of the community response. 

“This contract and transition plan will ensure that our residents continue to have access to testing,” he said. “In addition, I also urge our residents to help stop this outbreak by taking hygiene seriously, practicing social distancing, and wearing masks when coming into contact with others.”

Testing hours and criteria will remain the same. Both locations will be open Monday to Saturday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. 

McKinney Mayor Issues Mask Requirement Declaration 

The McKinney Mayor on Tuesday issued a local disaster declaration requiring residents to wear masks in public. The declaration begins on Tuesday, June 30 and continues through July 6. 

According to the declaration, all public-facing businesses and organizations must require employees and visitors to wear masks. All people 10 years and older are urged to wear masks that cover their nose and mouth. 

The face covering requirement does not apply if it interferes with the providing of services or consumption of food. The declaration states: 

“The Policy must require, at a minimum, that all employees and visitors to the entity’s business premises or other facilities wear face coverings that cover the nose and mouth when in an area or while performing an activity which will necessarily involve close contact or proximity to coworkers or the public. The Policy may allow individuals with an operational need to remove a face covering so long as such operational needs are specifically addressed in the Policy.”

4 Juveniles, 3 Staff Test Positive At Collin County Detention Facility

Collin County’s Juvenile Probation department was notified that four juveniles and three detention officers have tested positive for COVID-19. 

A detention officer was first announced positive on June 25. Since then, two officers and four juveniles have come back with positive test results. 

The four juveniles are now isolated in a separate detention wing with individual housing units and being cared for by WellPath, the contract medical provider for the county. Infected staff members are isolating at their homes. 

All juveniles and staff in the facility are set to be retested and screened. Those who have been in close contact with infected patients have been tested and isolated.

Dallas Fire Department Gets Federal Funding

The Dallas Fire Department is getting a boost in federal funding to help its response effort to COVID-19.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has awarded the city nearly $850,000 for personal protective equipment and related supplies for firefighters.

U.S. Senator John Cornyn said the grant is meant to strengthen the department's ability to respond to fire and related hazards, without putting themselves at risk of contracting COVID-19.

As of yesterday, the department has 46 firefighters and civilian employees that tested positive for coronavirus.

Of those, 25 have fully recovered and returned to work. Dozens of others are quarantined for off-duty exposures.

Parents And Teachers Face Uncertainty Come School Year In Fall

Parents and teachers across Texas are still unsure what school will look like this fall. Alexandra Checka is a middle school teacher in the Fort Worth School District.

“We’re highly anxious here because the number of teachers who have upper respiratory issues, asthma, immuno-compromise, it’s not just teachers, that’s everybody in the building you know the cafeteria staff, the front office, the maintenance staff, like what are the safeguards in place and also just like - the number of bodies in buildings,” she said. 

Fort Worth superintendent Kent Scribner during a digital town hall last week said the district will honor everyone’s medical and legal issues regarding safety.

"The general plan is for those who are teaching virtually, that that take place in schools and quite frankly we need to really monitor the increase in cases because we may not be hybrid,” he said. “We may be fully online but we don’t know that at this time.”

Every school district in Texas is still awaiting detailed guidance for fall classes from the Texas Education Agency.  

70 New Cases In Denton County 

There are 70 more cases in the county, bringing the countywide total to 2,740. Four long-term care (LTC) residents were included in the daily case count today, bringing the countywide total of cases associated with LTC facilities to 26. 

Collin County Reports 119 Additional Cases 

With an additional 119 new cases, the countywide total increased to 2,882 according to the Texas Department of State Health Services. Deaths in the county have reached 42 and hospitalizations are at 127.

263 New Cases In Tarrant County 

Another 263 cases in the county raised the total case count to 11,739. There have been 225 deaths and 5,059 people who have recovered from the virus in the area. 

Dallas County Reports New Daily High Of 572 Cases

The county reached a new high of 572 daily cases, bringing the countywide total to 20,737. Another death reported today is of an Irving man in his 40s - he had underlying high-risk health conditions, but was not critically ill nor admitted to a local hospital. 

A growing number of cases since the beginning of June have been linked to large social and recreational gatherings like house parties. Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins urged county residents to take caution as case numbers continue to rise:

“Today we have our highest number of reported cases of COVID-19 in Dallas County, and this weekend for the first time, our weekend reporting numbers went up. Normally our weekend reporting numbers go way down as some hospitals don’t report. Our numbers went from 571 to 611 COVID-19 cases in the hospital for Dallas County. Hopefully, this is because the hospitals have made it a point to increase accuracy of weekend reporting, but either way the numbers are of great concern."

Perot Museum And Holocaust Museum Delay Reopening Plans In Wake Of Governor's New Order

The Perot Museum of Nature and Science and the Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum issued a joint statement on Monday morning, announcing that they have “decided to pause plans to reopen in early July.”

In addition, both museums announced that they are “working in close coordination” with other downtown museums, including the Dallas Museum of Art, the Nasher Sculpture Center, the Crow Museum of Asian Art and the Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza “to evaluate when we will reopen to the public.”

The announcement cites “the spike in COVID-19 cases in Dallas County and the rollback of the state’s phased reopening” instituted last week by Gov. Greg Abbott in the wake of a flood of new cases. Abbott’s order also closed bars entirely and curtailed restaurant capacity to 50% after recently allowing them to reopen at 75% capacity.

Just last week, the Holocaust museum had announced it planned to reopen on July 8. The Perot Museum marked its calendar for a July 9 reopening earlier this month. Both museums have been closed since March.

-The Dallas Morning News

Texans Begin Voting Monday In Runoff Elections. Officials Are Doing What They Can To Make It Safe.

The upheaval of the coronavirus pandemic will reshape one of the most fundamental aspects of ordinary life starting Monday: voting.

Poll workers will begin greeting voters from behind face masks and shields as early voting begins in primary runoffs that will look and operate differently from any Texas election in the past 100 years. Although the first statewide election during the pandemic is expected to be a low-turnout affair — primary runoffs usually see single-digit turnout — the contest is widely regarded as a high-stakes dry run for the November general election, when at least half of the state's more than 16 million registered voters are expected to participate.

More than 30 runoffs are ongoing for party nominations to congressional, legislative and local offices. The most prominent race is the statewide Democratic contest to see who will challenge incumbent John Cornyn for U.S. Senate.

But the shot at working through a new set of considerations — and challenges — for running a safe and efficient election could be complicated by its timing. The runoff was postponed from May and takes place as the state’s tenuous grip on controlling the coronavirus outbreak unravels into record-high daily infection and hospitalization rates.

-The Texas Tribune

Dallas County Judge Calls Gov. Abbott To Enact Statewide Mandatory Mask Ordinance 

Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins is asking the Governor to implement a statewide mandatory mask ordinance.

The Dallas Morning News reports that Jenkins sent Gov. Abbott's office a letter asking him to reinstate the "Stay Home, Stay Safe" order for 30 days along with requiring masks in certain areas.

Jenkins also included a list of recommendations from the Public Health Committee.

The group of health experts recommended that Texas keep businesses at 50% capacity, limit indoor gatherings to 10 people or fewer and close all gyms, bowling alleys and movie theaters.

570 New Cases, 1 More Death In Dallas County

Dallas County has 570 additional positive cases today, another new daily record, and one death. This brings the total case count in the county to 20,165, including 352 deaths.

“The more important number is hospitalizations,” said Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins, “Which has doubled this month and is the best indicator of the wide community spread we are experiencing."

Jenkins sent a letter to Gov. Greg Abbott yesterday with recommendations from health experts asking him to follow their advice to quell the spread of the virus in Dallas County and across the state.

The additional death being reported in Dallas County today is that of an Irving man in his 80s.He had been critically ill in an area hospital, and did not have underlying high risk health conditions.

393 New Cases In Tarrant County 

There are 393 new cases in Tarrant County today, according to data released by county health officials. This brings the countywide confirmed case count to 11,476, including 225 deaths. 

Collin County Has 92 New Cases Today

There are 92 new cases in Collin County today. That brings the countywide total confirmed cases to 2,763, including 42 deaths.

40 New Cases In Denton County

Denton County has 40 new cases today. This increases the cumulative, countywide total to 2,670 confirmed cases, including 37 deaths. 

Included in the 40 new cases reported today are two residents of long-term care facilities, bringing the countywide total to 22 cases associated with long-term care facilities. 

Early Voting Begins Monday

Early voting for the July 14 primary runoffs begins Monday.

Among the ballot items: A Democratic runoff between Dallas state Senator Royce West and retired Air Force pilot MJ Hegar to take on Republican incumbent U.S. Sen. John Cornyn.

Voters will decide 15 U.S. House runoffs — including former Dallas congressman Pete Sessions' attempt to return to Congress from a new district. He faces Waco businesswoman Renee Swann.

There are also 14 Texas House runoffs.

The primaries were originally scheduled for May, but the Governor delayed them until July, and extended the early voting period, because of coronavirus.

Early voting runs from Monday to July 10.

More on what you need to know about early voting from The Texas Tribune.

Forecasters Say Without Increased Mitigation Efforts, Dallas County's Daily Cases Could Double In July 

As Texas continues to see an uptick in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, the PolicyLab at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia says the state has “lost control” of the pandemic. 

PolicyLab forecasters say if mitigation efforts don't change, Dallas County could see roughly a thousand daily new coronavirus cases by mid-July — that's more than double the current daily case count.

Recently, the county's seen record numbers of COVID-19 hospitalizations. In Harris County — which includes Houston — the weekly average of new hospitalizations has quadrupled since mid-May.

PolicyLab director Dr. David Rubin is concerned about how quickly the epidemic is progressing, saying it could quickly overwhelm local healthcare systems.

Just this week, Texas Children's Hospital announced it'll admit adult COVID-19 patients after a surge of hospitalizations in the Houston area.

Counties have been passing mask requirements, but Rubin said it may be too late to slow the spread of coronavirus through masks alone.

He said states with elevated risk like Texas need to take more aggressive steps to curb transmission.

Texas Reinstates Safety Rules For Child Care Centers As Cases Mount

As COVID-19 cases rise precipitously, Texas is reinstating safety mandates for child care centers that had been repealed in mid-June.

The newest emergency rules, published Thursday, include requiring child care centers to check temperatures of staff and students each day, have parents drop students off outside and not serve family style meals. State health officials said the immediate adoption of the rules was necessary to prevent "imminent peril to the public health, safety, and welfare of the state."

For the first time, state officials are also mandating that child care centers comply with the current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance, which advises child care providers to consider a number of social distancing and screening methods. - The Texas Tribune

EU Narrows Down Border List, US Unlikely To Make The Cut

European Union envoys are close to finalizing a list of countries whose citizens will be allowed to enter Europe again, possibly from late next week, EU diplomats confirmed Saturday. Americans are almost certain to be excluded in the short term due to the number of U.S. coronavirus cases.

The envoys were expected to have narrowed down later Saturday the exact criteria for countries to make the list, which include the way the spread of the virus is being managed. Another key condition is whether the country has a ban on citizens from European nations.

The number of cases in the United States has surged over the past week, with an all-time high of 45,300 confirmed new daily infections just reached. President Donald Trump also suspended the entry of all people from Europe’s ID check-free travel zone in a decree in March. — The Associated Press

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

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