'No need to panic:' Tarrant County, Fort Worth declare local disaster after 3 coronavirus cases

Mar. 13--FORT WORTH -- Tarrant County Judge Glen Whitley declared a disaster Friday citing a public health emergency over the spread of the new coronavirus, which causes a flu-like illness for which there is no cure.

As of Friday afternoon, three Tarrant County residents had tested "presumptive positive" for coronavirus. The second person traveled to Europe and is not related to a Fort Worth priest who tested positive after returning from Kentucky. A third case was announced late Friday evening after Whitley's declaration. That person was in contact with someone from Collin County who recently tested positive for the virus.

Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price declared a state of emergency for the city following Whitley's address. Libraries, community centers and other nonessential buildings and services will be closed or canceled "until further notice," she said.

The state of disaster for the county will last seven days unless the Tarrant County Commissioners court votes to extend.

With the declaration, officials will establish an emergency management plan. The Tarrant County and Fort Worth declarations come after the city of Dallas and Dallas County declared states of emergency on Thursday, when a case of community-spread coronavirus was found there. Community-spread cases are those for which the source of infection is unknown, which Tarrant County Public Health director Vinny Taneja described as "a major trigger event."

Whitley said any event that involves 250 or more people or large groups in confined spaces should be canceled immediately. Businesses should encourage employees to work from home, if they can, and schools are asked to extend spring break 14 days from when the break was originally supposed to end, Whitley said. He also discouraged all non-essential travel. More information about changes to county offices and courts will be available later, he said.

"We are trying to get in front of this," Whitley said, stressing that county officials had been preparing for this declaration for weeks.

Whitley's address came on the heels of Texas Gov. Greg Abbott declaring a statewide disaster. President Donald Trump declared coronavirus an national emergency and pledged up to up to $50 billion in federal aid.

Whitley told the Star-Telegram Thursday local officials were mulling the possibility of declaring the virus a disaster.

Price echoed Whitley's recommendations in a Facebook Live address alongside the fire and police chiefs and other city officials. She encouraged workers to stay home and for offices to separate cubicles if possible.

"There is no need to panic," Price said. "Our recommendations will slow the transmission of this virus as other communities have."

Second Tarrant County COVID-19

Taneja would not provide details about the county's second coronavirus case. Taneja said health officials believed such information would violate the patient's rights.

The county's first case came earlier this week when an Episcopal priest tested positive for the virus. Taneja said Thursday everyone who came in contact with the priest had been identified and those at highest risk of infection had been asked to quarantine for 14 days.

Health officials won't say how many people have been tested through Tarrant County's public health lab. Taneja said because the lab serves 30 other counties, the number is of tests is misleading and "usually not useful."

Rep. Chris Turner, a Democrat from Grand Prairie and chair of the House Democratic Caucus, applauded Whitley's declaration Friday, but said he was hopeful for more transparency regarding testing availability.

"I would absolutely strongly encourage county public health departments, as well as state and federal governments, to be very clear and precise with numbers with respect to testing capacity, number of tests completed and provide information on demand for tests."

The health department last week said it hoped to have the capacity to test 50 to 100 a day by the end of this week. Taneja said Friday the capacity was closer to 24, but officials were working to ramp up testing with new technology.

More than 1,400 people have tested positive for coronavirus in the United States, and a growing number of governors have issued disaster proclamations or states of emergency over coronavirus concerns.

COVID-19, the disease coronavirus causes, is especially dangerous because there is no cure yet and not approved vaccination, Colquitt said. Those who are older or have weakened immune systems are most at risk. Healthier people may have mild or no symptoms but can still spread the virus.

Tarrant County health officials have stressed people should follow standard hygiene: wash hands for at least 20 seconds or use alcohol-based hand sanitizer, clean high contact surfaces frequently and remain at least 6 feet from other people.

Taneja stressed that the regular flu season is still active. Those who have flu-like symptoms should remain home. People who suspect they are sick should not rush off to a hospital or clinic and instead call their medical provider.

While the number of people tested in Tarrant County remained elusive, Dr. Catherine Colquitt, the county's medical authority and an expert in infectious diseases, said those exposed to the first two patients have been identified and are being monitored. She voiced confidence in her department's ability to investigate suspected cases.

"Our epidemiology department is very good," she said.

Fort Worth businesses

Both Whitley and Price recommended businesses limit gatherings and allow employees to work form.

Price said those measures would reduce the spread of the virus and decrease the strain on hospitals and clinics.

On Thursday she told the Star-Telegram a disaster declaration would open the door for federal and state aide to help businesses affected by the virus. Small business loans were discussed in a call with the governor, but details had not been hashed out.

Schools and churches

Closing schools may limit access to meals for many Tarrant County children.

Whitley said school districts and county officials are in discussions on how to continue to provided needed services to children if schools remained closed for weeks. Bus drivers may be asked to deliver meals to households on the free or reduced lunch program along their regular route. Programs that provide meals over the summer may also be activated, Whitley said.

Day cares will likely stay open, he said, but they are asked to limit visitors, maintain several feet between people and routinely clean surfaces. Nursing homes are asked to do the same as well as cancel any social events planned for residents.

Taneja said houses of worship should limit the number of people allowed into service. That can be done by holding multiple services a day to spread the crowd out into smaller sized congregations. He discouraged the use of shared cups and food during religious services as well as any close contact.

He urged people to not panic and to practice sound judgment.

"This is another disease, we will fight it off," Taneja said. "Let's not fear this disease, let's learn about it and we can win."

Staff writers Tessa Weinberg and Domingo Ramirez Jr. contributed to this report.

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