This story is from May 4. For updates from May 5, click here.
Dallas County is reporting its highest number of new cases yet for the second day in a row, officials said Monday.
There were 237 new cases reported, and three more people have died from the disease. The death toll now sits at 114 people with at least 4,370 cases confirmed in the county. Dallas County does not release data on recoveries.
All three people who died had been hospitalized, according to county officials. One was an Irving man in his 60s, while the other two victims were both Dallas men in their 80s.
Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins tweeted about the new numbers, saying it shows a continuing upward trend in the case count. The county will require reopened businesses to follow Gov. Greg Abbott's reopening recommendations, Jenkins added.
He did not specify further what those requirements would be.
"The local public health community is advising to limit unnecessary visits to stores or group settings and to wear your face covering when you go," Jenkins said.
Top updates for Monday, May 4:
- Applications for two new COVID-19 relief programs launched at 9 a.m. for Dallas residents. People who live in the city could be eligible for mortgage or rent assistance, and business owners can apply to qualify for a loan or grant.
- After it reopened twice and dozens visited over the weekend, a bar in Fort Worth's Stockyards was shut down by city code enforcement officers.
- Are there parallels between coronavirus and climate change? Some experts think so.
For a daily roundup of the biggest coronavirus news from around North Texas, sign up for the WFAA COVID-19 email newsletter.
Tarrant County reports two more deaths, 40 new cases
Seventy-seven people have now died from COVID-19 in Tarrant County, officials said Monday afternoon.
The two most recent victims were men who had underlying health conditions. One was from Fort Worth and was in his 60s. The other was from Benbrook and was in his 80s.
Officials also reported 40 new cases Monday, bringing the county's total to 2,624. Of those cases, 651 people have recovered.
There are currently at least 198 people hospitalized from COVID-19 in the county, according to official data.
Navy's Blue Angels to fly over North Texas
The U.S. Navy's Blue Angels will fly over Dallas and Fort Worth on Wednesday to honor those working in health care and other essential fields.
The flyover will start at 11 a.m. and last about 35 minutes, Rep. Kay Granger, R-Fort Worth, said.
The Blue Angels are expected to announce the full schedule on Tuesday, but a representative from the Bell Fort Worth Alliance Air Show said the flight squad would start near McKinney and released a map of the planned route, though they said it could change.
The Blue Angels have been flying over cities across the country as a way to recognize those serving on the frontlines of the COVID-19 response.
The news comes as Texas reports more than 880 deaths from the virus. The state has had at least 32,330 cases reported out of a total of about 407,400 tests. Almost 16,100 people have recovered from the disease an more than 1,500 people remain hospitalized.
Over the weekend, the jets flew over Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Maryland, and Atlanta.
Testing sites opening this week in Navarro, Parker, Rockwall counties
Navarro County is opening a free COVID-19 testing site on Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the I.O.O.F. Event Center at 601 N. 45th St. in Corsicana.
Parker County is opening a second drive-through testing facility on Thursday at Heritage Park 317 Santa Fe Dr. Visitors must select an appointment time.
Rockwall County will have the testing site from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday at 701 E. Interstate 30 at Lake Pointe Church. You will be screened to see if you have fever/chills, cough, fatigue, body aches/muscle or joint pain, shortness of breath, sore throat, headaches, nausea/vomiting/diarrhea, nasal congestion and loss of taste/smell.
To visit any of these sites, you must preregister at txcovidtest.org or call 512-883-2400.
City website overwhelmed by relief program applicants
Applications for two new COVID-19 relief programs from the city of Dallas launched Monday morning and were met with such high demand that the applications crashed the city's website.
"Due to high volume, the online application is experiencing slowness. We are working to get this resolved as quickly as possible. Please try back shortly," a message posted to the website said.
The city has set up a mortgage and rent assistance program for residents and a small business continuity fund for business owners. The applications for both went live at 9 a.m.
Garland ISD holds virtual job fair
Garland Independent School District is holding a job fair virtually on Monday.
Job seekers can interact with campus administrators from the district's 72 schools through Meet and Greet Zoom rooms
More information about the event, including session times for each campus and how to get registered, are on the district's website.
Sessions began at 9 a.m. and run until 4 p.m.
Arlington and Dallas ISDs have also held virtual job fairs as a way to attract new teachers to open positions.
Hood County allowed up to 50% occupancy
Hood County, southwest of Tarrant County, has been recertified to reopen at 50% occupancy based on the May 1 positive case count for COVID-19, health officials said.
Counties that have less than five cases of COVID-19 are verified by the Texas Department of State Health Services before 50% occupancy is allowed, per Gov. Greg Abbott's reopening guidelines. Those counties must also provide testing for coronavirus.
As of Monday at 10 a.m., here are the other counties have also been certified by the DSHS for 50% occupancy: Aransas, Archer, Armstrong, Austin, Bailey, Bandera, Baylor, Callahan, Carson, Clay, Coke, Coleman, Comanche, Cooke, Crane, Delta, Dickens, Duval, Erath, Floyd, Freestone, Goliad, Hamilton, Hardeman, Haskell, Hemphill, Hood, Hopkins, Howard, Jim Wells, Karnes, Kerr, Knox, Lamb, Lampasas, Lipscomb, Madison, McCulloch, Medina, Mills, Mitchell, Morris, Oldham, Reagan, Real, Red River, Reeves, Refugio, Scurry, and Shackelford.
Drive-thru testing site open for first half of week in McKinney
Anyone exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 and all health care workers and first responders can sign up to get tested for the disease in McKinney on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday, Mayor George Fuller said.
The testing will take place from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. in a Walmart parking lot located at 1721 N. Custer Road.
Those wishing to get tested will need to sign up for an appointment through eTrueNorth at doineedacovid19test.com. When visiting the testing site, bring an appointment confirmation and photo ID.
There will be no out-of-pocket cost to those wishing to get tested.
Dallas ISD 'likely' to return to class in the fall with blended learning
Dallas ISD is considering different options for how students will return to their lessons in the fall, superintendent Dr. Michael Hinojosa said in a news conference Monday.
The reopening phase that started in Texas Friday will provide data and shed light on the best practices going forward, Hinojosa said.
The district is looking at three options: “Option A, business as usual; highly doubtful,” Hinojosa said. “Plan B, we stay in the current state; highly unlikely. I believe things are going to improve between now and August. Plan C, some kind of blended learning opportunity. I think this will be highly likely.”
RELATED: Dallas ISD 'likely' to return to class in the fall with blended learning at-home and on-campus
Carnival cruise line announces plan to phase-in service
Carnival Cruise Line on Monday announced its plans to phase a few North American services this summer, starting on Aug. 1.
Eight ships will be departing from Miami, Port Canaveral and Galveston.
All North American cruises from June 27 to July 31 will be canceled, and all other trips in North America and Australia, not leaving from the three designated ports, will be canceled through August 31.
All Carnival Spirit Alaskan cruises from Seattle will be canceled, as well as the Carnival Spirit Vancouver-Honolulu cruise on Sept. 25 and the Honolulu-Brisbane transpacific cruise on Oct. 6.
"Impacted guests and their travel advisors are being notified by email, including options for a combined future cruise credit (FCC) and onboard credit (OBC) package, or a full refund," the company's statement said. "We are committed to supporting all public health efforts to manage the COVID-19 situation. We are taking a measured approach, focusing our return to service on a select number of homeports where we have more significant operations that are easily accessible by car for the majority of our guests."
Galleria Dallas, Macy's, Starbucks to reopen
Macy's, Starbucks and Galleria Dallas announced Monday plans to reopen to customers in North Texas.
The Galleria Dallas will begin to reopen Monday, following the lead of other malls in the area like NorthPark and Highland Park Village.
The mall will reopen at 11 a.m. with reduced hours. Its hours, for now, will be Monday through Saturday, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m.
Everyone in the building will be required to wear a face covering, including employees.
Public settings like the Food Place and Children's Play Place will be temporarily removed or closed. For a list of the dozens of different retailers and restaurants reopening, click here.
On Monday, Starbucks is reopening select locations that can accommodate for 6-feet social distancing. Employees may be wearing personal protective equipment. Go here for more information.
Macy's will reopen their locations at Macy's Northpark, Macy's Galleria Dallas, Macy's Stonebriar, and Market by Macy's at Southlake.
Available In-Store Shopping, Curbside Delivery and In-Store Pick-up:
Macy’s Irving
Macy’s Vista Ridge
Macy’s Golden Triangle
Macy’s Northpark
Macy’s Dallas Galleria
Macy’s Stonebriar
Macy’s Town East
Macy’s Willowbend
Macy’s Firewheel Town Center
Macy’s Village at Fairview
Macy’s Parks at Arlington
Macy’s North East
Macy’s Hulen
Market by Macy’s in Southlake (Monday – Saturday open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Sunday open 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.)
Health experts recommend taking the following actions to prevent the spread of COVID-19:
- 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.
- Follow CDC’s recommendations for using a facemask.
- 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.