For the first time, both Dallas and Tarrant counties reported single day case counts over 600 on Tuesday.
Health officials in Dallas confirmed 601 new cases, while Tarrant County authorities reported 605. Both were records.
While Tarrant County reported three coronavirus-related deaths, Dallas County reported its highest death toll for one day: 20.
Among those, a Dallas man in his 30s and a Garland woman in her 70s, who were both found dead in their home. The other 18 reported deaths occurred in hospitals, according to health officials.
New coronavirus cases have spiked across the Dallas-Fort Worth area and other urban areas of the state.
Dallas County first reported 300 cases in one day on June 10. Daily case totals have been increasing since.
Health officials said more than half of the cases in June have been reported among people between the ages of 18 and 39. Officials believe the spike in cases is linked to "multiple large recreational and social gatherings" this month.
Top updates for Tuesday, June 30:
- Frisco ISD has sent out a form to families asking students to commit to either in-person or virtual learning this fall.
- The European Union will reopen its borders to 14 countries, but the U.S. is not one of them.
- A video of a woman throwing food in a Dallas grocery store after workers asked her to wear a mask has gone viral.
For a daily roundup of the biggest coronavirus news from around North Texas and beyond, sign up for the WFAA COVID-19 email newsletter.
Tarrant County reports 3 new deaths, all from Arlington
Tarrant County health officials reported three coronavirus-related deaths Tuesday.
Each person was an Arlington resident. Two women in their 50s and a man in his 70s were the latest casualties from the disease, according to officials.
Tarrant County has reported 228 confirmed deaths from COVID-19 since March.
The county has tallied 12,344 total cases since tracking began in March. Health officials report more than 5,200 people have recovered from the disease.
Dallas County hits record number of coronavirus deaths, new cases
The county has now tallied 21,338 coronavirus cases and 373 deaths from the disease since tracking began in March.
Health officials have reported increases in COVID-19 among young adults. And about two-thirds of those hospitalized are under the age of 65.
Half of those hospitalized have not reported underlying health conditions.
Health officials say about 80% of those hospitalized who have reported their job work in "critical infrastructure," including the health care industry.
The deaths reported Tuesday are:
- A Richardson man in his 30s who had underlying health conditions.
- A Dallas man in his 30s with no underlying medical conditions. He was found dead in his home.
- A Dallas man in his 40s with underlying health conditions.
- An Irving man in his 40s with underlying health conditions.
- A Dallas man in his 40s who did not have underlying medical conditions.
- A Balch Springs man in his 50s who had underlying health conditions.
- A Seagoville man in his 50s who had underlying health conditions. He lived in a long-term care facility.
- A Dallas woman in her 60s who had underlying health conditions.
- A Garland woman in her 60s who had underlying health conditions. She lived in a long-term care facility.
- A Dallas man in his 70s who did not have underlying health conditions.
- Two Dallas men in their 70s who had underlying health conditions.
- A Garland woman in her 70s who had underlying health conditions. She was found dead in her home.
- A Dallas woman in her 70s who had underlying health conditions.
- Two Dallas women in their 80s who had underlying health conditions.
- A Dallas man in his 80s who had underlying health conditions.
- A Dallas woman in her 90s who did not have underlying health conditions. She lived at a long-term care facility.
- A Dallas woman in her 90s who had underlying health conditions. She lived at a long-term care facility.
Kaufman requires people to wear masks
People over the age of 9 in Kaufman now "must wear a face covering" that covers their nose and mouth when in public spaces where they can not effectively practice physical distancing.
Businesses will also now be required to have everyone in their facilities wear face coverings in the city of Kaufman, per a new order from the mayor.
Mayor Jeff Jordan issued the second mayoral declaration on Monday, and it went into effect Tuesday.
There are several exceptions to the order. People do not need to wear a face covering:
- "When exercising outside or engaging in physical activity outside
- When driving alone or with passengers who are part of the same household as the driver
- When doing so poses a greater mental or physical health, safety, or security risk
- When pumping gas or operating outdoor equipment
- While in a building or participating in an activity that requires security surveillance, screening, or identification, for example, banks
- When consuming food or drink; or
- When receiving a service where a face covering would impair the service."
Violations of the order will be considered "an imminent threat to public health" and those who violate it will be fined up to $1,000.
To view the entire order, click here.
Free Dallas testing at AAC will close
The City of Dallas and Dallas County have finalized an agreement with a private company to continue to provide drive-thru testing for free, officials announced Tuesday.
The American Airlines Center testing site will close, but a new location will be set up at the University of Dallas's Lot B parking lot at 1845 E. Northgate Dr. in Irving using the private provider, local officials said.
The Ellis Davis Field House location will continue to be open with extended federal support through mid-July before it switches to a private company, according to officials.
Both locations will operate from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday.
Texas Workforce Commission will not require work search next month
The Texas Workforce Commission will not reinstate work search requirements next month for those currently using their unemployment benefits from the state.
The news follows Gov. Greg Abbott's executive order on Friday that closed down bars and reduced restaurant capacity to 50%, among other restrictions to roll back the state's reopening.
The requirement had been scheduled to begin again July 6 after state officials put it on pause in light of the pandemic.
Multiple cases reported at Collin County juvenile detention facility
Four juveniles and three staff members at a juvenile detention facility in Collin County have tested positive for the novel coronavirus, a spokesperson said.
The first to test positive in the facility was a detention officer when the results were received on June 25. Two other officers and the four juveniles have tested positive since then, with the juveniles being isolated separately in a different wing.
Those who may have come into close contact with any of them have identified, tested and isolated, according to officials.
Parents of all of the children at the facility have been notified, the spokesperson said, and all of the children will be tested for the disease.
The positive staff members are isolating at their homes, and the others will also be tested.
Irving aquatic facilities shut down
Irving Parks and Recreation leaders have decided to close all of the aquatic facilities in the city until further notice.
Officials said the decision is due to an increase in COVID-19 cases.
Hospitalizations hit record highs again in Texas, Dallas-Fort Worth region
After Sunday was the first day the state had not seen a new record number of hospitalizations, state officials again reported a high number of coronavirus hospitalizations on Monday, rising to 5,913 people.
The number of COVID-19 patients in North Texas hospitals rose slightly again on Monday, from 1,261 people Sunday to 1,288 people. The rise set a new record for the region as well, where available ICU beds have gone down to about 431, state officials report.
The region around Houston, however, has a much smaller number of available ICU beds, about 169, with 1,767 COVID-19 patients currently hospitalized, the highest number of any region in the state.
Over the month of June, Tarrant County's hospitals have seen an influx of COVID-19 patients as the number of beds occupied by those with the disease have more than doubled to about 13% of total hospital patients and about 8% of total beds.
Dallas County officials said the same trend had occurred there, with the number of Dallas County residents with COVID-19 being treated in a hospital having doubled in June.
On Monday, Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins said hospitalizations there had gone up to 611 people as a record number of 572 new cases were reported.
"The numbers are of great concern," he said.
Health experts recommend taking the following actions to prevent the spread of COVID-19:
- Wear a face covering.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Practice "social distancing" and stay at least 6 feet away from others and avoid large public gatherings
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
- Stay home when you are sick.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
- If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.
- Consult CDC’s travel website for any travel advisories and steps to protect yourself if you plan to travel outside of the U.S.