This story will be updated throughout the day as new information is released.
The state of Texas surpassed 8,000 COVID-19 deaths Friday, and announced more than 7,000 newly confirmed cases. But officials say the case totals are trending down, the positivity rate continues to trend upward across the state.
The state health department reported 293 more Texans died from COVID-19, bringing the total to 8,096 deaths since tracking began in March.
Cases and hospitalization across the D-FW area are dropping, but officials continue to urge residents to stay home if possible, social distance and wear masks.
Dallas County reports 422 new cases, 10 deaths
Dallas County health officials announced 422 newly confirmed cases and 10 more COVID-19 related deaths.
“We continue to see benefits from wearing masks. Unfortunately, today we had 10 death which is a somber reminder of the seriousness of COVID-19 and the need for us to continue to wear masks,” said Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins.
The 10 deaths include:
- A Dallas man in his 60s, who had underlying health conditions
- A Balch Springs man in his 60s, who had underlying health conditions
- A Richardson man in his 60s, who had underlying health conditions
- A Dallas man in his 70s, who had underlying health conditions
- A Farmer’s Branch woman in her 70s, who had underlying health conditions
- Two women in their 70s, who were residents at a long-term care facility in Dallas, and had underlying health conditions
- A Dallas woman in her 70s, who had underlying health conditions
- A man in his 80s, who was a resident of a Dallas long-term care facility and had underlying health conditions
- A woman I her 80s, who was a resident of a Dallas long-term care facility and had underlying health conditions.
The case count is now at 53,291, including 746 confirmed deaths.
Health officials say over 2,514 children under the age of 18 have been diagnosed with COVID-19 since July 1, including 61 children who have been hospitalized.
Tarrant County reports 3 new deaths
Tarrant County health officials reported 3 new deaths and 272 new confirmed cases Friday. County officials also reported 19 probable cases of the coronavirus.
The latest victims include a man in his 80s from Grand Prairie, a man in his 80s from Grapevine, and a man in his 40s from Mansfield.
County health officials said all three patients had underlying health conditions.
Tarrant County now has 414 confirmed deaths and 20,329 recoveries since tracking began in March.
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Denton County reports 145 new cases, 3 deaths
Denton County Public Health announced 145 newly confirmed cases, and three more COVID-19 related deaths Friday.
The three victims include two residents at the Eagle Ridge Alzheimer’s Special Care Center in Denton, and a man in his 70s who was a resident of Brookhaven Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Carrollton.
There have been 7,519 confirmed COVID-19 cases, including 60 deaths and 4,408 recoveries since tracking began in March.
DCPH is providing a free drive-thru COVID-19 testing center in Argyle on Tuesday, Aug. 11, at Cross Timbers Church at 1119 US-37. For more information click here.
Cinemark to open 3 Dallas-Fort Worth theatres next week
Cinemark has announced that it will be reopening a select number of its theatres across the country Aug. 14, three of which are in North Texas. Tickets go on sale Friday night and can be purchased online.
Theaters reopening locally include: Cinemark 14 Rockwall and XD; Cinemark Alliance Town Center and XD; and North East Mall 18 and XD.
Cinemark says the reopening is an expansion of the company’s "test-and-learn process."
The company says this process had helped with training, communication, cleaning and sanitization protocols and new technology.
Eagle Mountain-Saginaw ISD will begin virtual learning Aug. 20
The Eagle Mountain-Saginaw ISD Board of Trustees has voted to begin the school year with virtual learning on Aug. 20. Options for in-person and choice remote learning will begin on Sept. 8.
Officials say school administration will continue to monitor circumstances surrounding COVID-19 in the weeks leading up to the beginning of the school year.
District officials said additional details regarding the back-to-school plan and information regarding specific programs will be shared later Friday.
COVID-19 drive-thru testing site in Mesquite
Dallas County officials are reminding residents of two drive-thru testing sites that are open Monday-Saturday.
Around 11 a.m. Friday, county officials said there was no waiting line at the Eastfield College location in Mesquite.
Residents can enter from La Prada Drive, north of I-30. Individuals are asked to bring some form of ID or proof of residency such as a utility bill.
The line closes at 1 p.m. and testing is free.
American Airlines flights to Canada
American Airlines announced Friday that service between Vancouver and Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport is temporarily being suspended due to low demand as a result of COVID-19.
A spokesperson said the airline expects to service January, followed by the seasonal return from LAX and PHX in June.
American Airlines says it will continue to service to Calgary, Canada from DFW.