KRLD 1080

Collin County Reports Third Death Related to COVID-19

(FRISCO, Texas) – Collin County Health Care Services (CCHCS) announced the third COVID-19 related death in Collin County today. The 67-year-old Frisco woman had been previously confirmed to have underlying health complications in addition to COVID-19. She died in a local hospital early Saturday morning. To respect and honor her family, no further personal information will be released.“We are sad to learn of the death of another member of our Collin County community today,” said Collin County Judge Chris Hill. “All of us grieve together with her family during this difficult time.”CCHCS has previously announced 256 confirmed cases of COVID-19 among Collin County residents. As of yesterday, 91 of those individuals have already recovered.Patients diagnosed with COVID-19 have reportedly had mild to severe respiratory illness with symptoms of fever, cough, and shortness of breath. Symptoms may appear in as few as 2 days or as long as 14 days after exposure. Additionally, some patients have experienced more severe symptoms and health complications. Should individuals experience more severe symptoms, CCHCS encourages individuals to call their health care provider or emergency department prior to arrival to limit exposure.Visit www.collincountytx.gov for additional local information regarding COVID-19, including information for individuals, businesses, and healthcare providers.

April 04, 2020

Two additional COVID-19 deaths reported by Tarrant County Public Health

April 4, 2020 (Tarrant County, TX) – Tarrant County Public Health (TCPH) today confirmed that two more Tarrant County residents have died after testing positive for the COVID-19 virus. Tarrant County now has a total of nine confirmed deaths from the COVID-19 virus.Tarrant County Public Health Director Vinny Taneja said one patient was elderly with underlying health conditions and a resident of Southlake. The other patient was a younger person from Haltom City with no known health conditions. Both contracted the virus through community transmission.He declined to provide further details, citing HIPAA laws regarding confidentiality of health information. “We express our deepest sympathy to the families,” he said. “Sadly, their deaths are a reminder for everyone that we are seeing more COVID-19 disease across our community” he said.COVID-19 causes respiratory illness with cough, fever, and shortness of breath, and may lead to bronchitis and severe pneumonia. “We want residents of Tarrant County to continue to be mindful of basic preventive measures to protect themselves from COVID-19 and other respiratory viruses,” Taneja said.These include:Stay home as much as possible.Practice social distancing by staying six feet away from others when you do go out; avoid gatherings of more than 10 people.Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.Avoid close contact with people who are sick.Stay home when you are sick. If you experience difficulty breathing, or persistent fever, call your primary care provider.Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue or your sleeve.Frequently clean and disinfect touched objects and surfaces.For more information go to coronavirus.tarrantcounty.com or call the Tarrant County Public Health information line, (817) 248-6299, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

April 04, 2020

Dallas County Reports 94 Additional Positive 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Cases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEApril 4, 2020 Dallas County Reports 94 Additional Positive 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Cases DALLAS --As of 10:00 am April 4, 2020, Dallas County Health and Human Services is reporting 94 additional positive cases of 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19), bringing the total case count in Dallas County to 1,015. The 18th death from COVID-19 is being reported, of a man in his 30’s who was as resident of the city of Dallas, and had been critically ill in an area hospital. He did not have underlying high-risk health conditions. Of cases requiring hospitalization, about three-quarters (71%) have been either over 60 years of age or have had at least one known high-risk chronic health condition. Diabetes has been an underlying high-risk health condition reported in over a quarter (28%) of all hospitalized patients with COVID-19. New cases are being reported as a daily aggregate, with a more detailed summary report updated Tuesdays and Fridays. “April will be critical. The questions and data are coming at all of us fast, so remember: You are #SaferAtHome, and when you venture out for essential trips or exercise, #SocialDistancingSavesLives. Together North Texas, we will #FlattenTheCurve,” said Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins. All Dallas County COVID-19 Updates and Information can be found here: https://www.dallascounty.org/covid-19/ The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends taking everyday preventive actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory diseases, including:· Stay home when you are sick, except to seek medical care· Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds and help young children to do the same. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-base hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.· Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.· Avoid close contact with people who are sick.· Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipes.· Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash. If you do not have a tissue, use your sleeve, not your hands. Additional information is available at the following websites:CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.htmlCDC Travel Information: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/index.htmlDSHS: https://dshs.texas.gov/coronavirus/DCHHS: https://www.dallascounty.org/departments/dchhs/2019-novel-coronavirus.php

April 04, 2020

Scientist Says Immigrant Detention Facilities could be COVID-19 Hotbeds

DALLAS (KRLD) - There are more than two dozen Immigration and Custom Enforcement shelters in Texas. ICE says there have not been any cases of coronavirus among the immigrant population, but a story in the Texas Standard says three ICE officers in the Houston area have tested positive. Scientist Says Immigrant Detention Facilities could be COVID-19 Hotbeds .mp3 Brown University epidemiologist Dr. Jody Rich says any "congregant facility, whether it's a nursing home, whether it's an aircraft carrier, whether it's a cruise ship, whether it's a prison or a detention facility, is constructed in a way to facilitate rapid transmission of this virus. And you can't get around that. Anybody who is locked up should be released in order to prevent them from getting infected all at once." He says this advice may not apply to criminals in jails and prisons who are a threat to public safety. But he says people in detention facilities are less likely to be a threat if they are released. "Many of them are there for political reasons. If released they would have a place to go and not get infected all at once. If a facility gets infected all at once, 20 percent of those people would need to be hospitalized. They will need to be transferred out of those facilities or they will die."He says local hospitals would be overwhelmed with COVID 19 patients, much like we're seeing in New York.He says the only tools we have are social distancing and frequent hand washing, and those are nearly impossible in detention facilities."If we could slow it and let a few people in these facilities get infected one at a time, no problem. But by creating these large facilities, we have created a public storm. Here is a place the virus can go to town and infect a whole lot of people all at once. That's a public safety nightmare.

April 04, 2020

More Than 40 Spring Breakers Now Test Positive for Coronavirus After Trip to Mexico

Additional students from the University of Texas who chartered a plane to Cabo San Lucas for spring break against advice of public health officials have fallen ill. A spokesperson for the City of Austin confirmed to FOX that at least 44 of the 70 students tested positive for coronavirus. That's up significantly from the 28 students that were reported ill earlier this week. “The incident is a reminder of the vital importance of taking seriously the warnings of public health authorities on the risks of becoming infected with COVID-19 and spreading it to others,” a University of Texas spokesperson said in a statement to local news station KXAN. According to Austin Public Health, 70 young adults in their 20s chartered a plane to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico about a week and a half ago. Upon returning to the states, 28 tested positive for COVID-19. “Austin Public Health and UT Health Austin and University Health Services have made contact with every spring breaker onboard the plane using flight manifests from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),” Austin Public Health said in a statement. “The 28 confirmed cases are self-isolating at this time. Others are under quarantine while being monitored and tested. The Department of State Health Services has been notified.” Officials said four of the cases have not shown any symptoms. The spring break trip took place prior to the city of Austin and Travis County issuing a stay-at-home order on March 24th. The University asserted they are working with Public Health to make sure everyone who may have been exposed to the virus is contacted. “The incident is a reminder of the vital importance of taking seriously the warnings of public health authorities on the risks of becoming infected with COVID-19 and spreading it to others,” UT spokesperson J.B. Bird said. “Because almost all UT students have returned to their homes around Texas and the world, there may be cases where they are reporting to regional authorities but not to us.” The news comes as many spring breakers received backlash for taking the pandemic lightly and continuing to party as other parts of the country went into lockdown. In an attempt to curtail spread of the virus, one father didn't want to take any chances and went so far as to ban his son from entering the family home after the 21-year-old returned from spring break in Texas. As of Tuesday, Texas has reported 3,403 positive cases of coronavirus, with at least 54 deaths, according to NBC News. LISTEN NOW on the RADIO.COM AppFollow RADIO.COMFacebook | Twitter | Instagram

April 04, 2020

Collin County Reports Second Death Related to COVID-19

DALLAS (KRLD) - A 41-year-old woman from Anna became the second Collin County resident to die because of the coronavirus on Thursday.Health officials say she had underlying health complications and died in a local hospital. “All of us at Collin County are saddened at the report of a second COVID-19 death within our community,” said Collin County Judge Chris Hill. “To her family, please know that you are in our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.”Officials also announced on Thursday that they had 227 positive cases of the coronavirus in the county. As of yesterday, 70 of those individuals have already recovered.

April 03, 2020

Application For Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program Begins

DFW (1080 KRLD) - A flow of cash is on the way to small businesses in North Texas. Starting today, business owners can apply for loans and grants under the Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program. It’s part of the $2 trillion relief package signed into law last week. "If you don't need the money, you can always give it back," said Nancy Hong, Assistant Director of the Caruth Institute for Entrepreneurship at SMU. "But get in line. It's something that will help you-- the businesses owners-- get over this challenging time. Then you can decide later whether or not you want to use [the money]."Hong says most of the money will be used to keep employees on the payroll. The rest can be used for things like rent, utilities and bills. Any small businesses with under 500 employees can apply to the program, which is available through June 30th

April 03, 2020

Confusion and Frustration Over Coronavirus Relief Payments

DALLAS (KRLD) - One week ago, President Trump signed the CARES law, which was designed to get COVID-19 relief money into the hands of American consumers as quickly as possible.But for some awaiting those payments, it will take a lot longer than for others.Bloomberg reports some recipients waiting on paper checks - those without direct deposit information on file - may have to wait until September to get their money, as Washington has the ability to crank out roughly 5,000,000 checks per week. Around 100 million Americans will receive payment in that fashion.The wait should be significantly shorter who provided bank information in filing their 2018 and/or 2019 federal taxes. The electronic relief payments are scheduled to start going out the week of April 13, and should take about three weeks to complete.Bloomberg Tax Correspondent Laura Davison talked about the process with KRLD's Chris Sommer... Confusion and Frustration Over Coronavirus Relief Payments

April 03, 2020

Dallas County Reports 90 Additional COVID-19 Cases

DALLAS (1080 KRLD) - Dallas County Health and Human Services is reporting 90 additional positive cases of 2019 novel coronavirus today, bringing the total number of infections to 921.There have been 17 total deaths in the county, none were reported today.On Friday, Dallas County Commissioners voted to extend the public health emergency declaration to May 20th.“We are beginning to see some rays of hope that we are benefiting from the Safer at Home order I implemented on March 22nd," said Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins. "The next two weeks are critical to #FlattenTheCurve. Please stay home and save lives”Of cases requiring hospitalization, about 71% have been either over 60 years of age or have had at least one known high-risk chronic health condition.Diabetes has been an underlying high-risk health condition reported in 28% of all hospitalized patients with COVID-19.The numbers of intensive care unit hospitalizations from COVID-19 from this past week have exceeded the peak week of ICU hospitalizations from influenza this past 2019-2020 season in Dallas County.

April 03, 2020

Dallas County Extends Public Health Emergency Declaration

DALLAS (KRLD) - The Dallas County Commissioners Court has voted to extend the county's Declaration of Disaster through May 20th. That declaration gives County Judge Clay Jenkins the authority to extend his "Safer at Home" order, which requires people to remain at home unless they're out for grocery shopping, medical care or other necessary tasks. The new "Safer at Home" order runs through April 30th - but could be extended at that time.Based on the extension of the Declaration of Disaster granted today, I am extending the Dallas County Safer at Home Order to April 30. The Declaration of Disaster is necessary to provide the tools to lead you through this. The Safer at Home Orders are the rules we ask of you.— Clay Jenkins (@JudgeClayJ) April 3, 2020 "We are beginning to see some positive effects of that safer at home order," says Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins. "It takes about two weeks to see anything from that because the people who got sick yesterday were exposed two weeks before that."The order is similar to the restrictions announced by Governor Greg Abbott, but the extension makes Dallas County the first to keep restrictions in place into May.Dallas County Health and Human Services reported 100 new cases of COVID-19 both Wednesday and Thursday. Jenkins says even though the county has the second-most cases in Texas, he is encouraged that the number of new cases stayed the same for two days."Flattening the curve doesn't mean it won't go up, it means it won't go up as steeply," Jenkins says. "If it doesn't go up as steeply, we don't get to a point where the need for hospital beds and ventilators outstrips our ability to get them."Friday morning, the City of Dallas reported 2,365 beds were occupied at 15 hospital groups in the city. Those 15 hospitals have 4,763 beds available.413 of 717 ICU beds were occupied.245 of 838 ventilators were being used.

April 03, 2020