Legal challenges to the order, however, may mean it ends sooner than Jenkins would like. "Theres a fear for family members that may be immunocompromised or themselves or in a higher risk. No one in his household is positive, and Patrick plans to resume a public schedule by weeks end, his campaign announced. Governor Greg Abbott tested positive for coronavirus last summer. He recently has said the state is preparing for the day when the coronavirus can be considered endemic, with rules that accept that it is here to stay but can be managed with caution. How will this affect students involved in extracurricular activities? Studies show vaccines still give adequate protection against the omicron variant. Most Dallas County school districts say they will follow the mandate. "So we remain very hopeful, we're also very concerned. The National Hockey League announced the Stars' next two games against Colorado this week have been postponed. The Federal Emergency Management Agency is parterning with Tarrant County to bring more testing centers to the community. The assistance is limited to $9,000 per funeral. Hospitals in North Texas are preparing for a COVID-19 surge in cases and hospitalizations sparked by omicron that may come in early next month. Weatherford ISD to close schools through Friday. Bray said residents should monitor COVID advisories before traveling. The new data follows a report from UT Southwestern Medical Center showing Dallas County could see more than 1,200 hospitalizations by the end of the month. The actual number could be higher because county officials report the data doesn't include home test kits. For residents of low-risk counties, there is no recommendation for masking. Here are answers to the some of the most frequently asked questions about the mask requirement. Sign up for The Brief, our daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news. OF DALLAS COUNTY OFFICE OF THE COUNTY JUDGE ORDER OF COUNTY JUDGE CLAY JENKINS ON REQUIRED USE OF A FACE MASK IN CERTAIN PUBLIC SPACE ORDER ISSUED: February 25, 2022 WHEREAS, pursuant to Texas Government Code Section 418.108, Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins declared a state of local disaster on March 12, 2020, due to imminent threat arising from Cases, hospitalizations, and deaths are largely occurring among unvaccinated populations. Parents need to bring proof of the childs age and their own ID for the vaccination. As COVID-19 numbers continue to drop, Dallas County Commissioner J.J. Koch is calling for an end to the mask mandate. State officials also announced that Indoor mega-events with more than 1,000 people will have to require vaccinations or negative tests for those attending and those who are unvaccinated will be required to wear masks. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of Republican North Texas Congresswoman Beth Van Duyne, who mainly flies out of the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airportone of the largest airports in the nation. Orange means extreme caution, a step below the highest risk level of red, or high risk of transmission.. During the week of November 28 to December 4, the average time patients waited for test results was 1.0 day. FEMA has distributed nearly $1.8 billion in COVID-19 related funeral assistance to roughly 273,000 people nationwide. local news and culture, Simone Carter Testing will take place in the Texas Rangers Sienna Lot M on 1205 Pennant Drive. Masks are still recommended for people with poor immune conditions, as well as the elderly. Tess Sheets covers Fullerton, Orange and Irvine, along with communities in south Orange County including San Juan Capistrano, Mission Viejo and Lake Forest, for The Orange County Register. Dallas Observer's The Morning After Brunch, temporary restraining order against the governors ban on mask mandates, Dallas ISD similarly defied the governor by mandating masks in schools, three-day total of 3,270 additional COVID-19 cases and five deaths. However, county health director Dr. Philip Huang warned despite a downward trend transmission remains high. singing, Sudan | 1.6K views, 103 likes, 39 loves, 110 comments, 228 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from Saved To Serve: Fighters Hijack Disease-Lab In. Student athletes, band members and all students involved in indoor and outdoor extracurricular activities, including coaches and sponsors are required to wear masks, whichmay be temporarily removed only when students are actively engaged in physical activities. Per the CDC and the TSA, the mask requirement for air travel is currently set to expire early next month. He said patients are facing lengthy delays in emergency rooms while trying to get care. "It is accelerating now and the U.S. population isn't completely vaccinated.". In order to receive a test, participants must register ahead at https://ineedacovid19test.com/. A majority of nearly 4,000 parents, students and staff surveyed support the temporary mask requirement. Experts say omicron variant not top concern in Dallas this holiday season delta is. U.S. health authorities said Thursday that 16- and 17-year-olds should get a booster dose of Pfizers COVID-19 vaccine once theyre six months past their last shot. California has 4,886,509confirmed cases to date. The Department of State Health Services said the sites will not be able to offer this monoclonal antibody treatment until the federal government is able to ship more of it. Appointments are not required and saliva tests will be given out at no cost. Dallas ISD extends mask mandate, Lancaster ISD students to learn remotely due to omicron variant Many North Texas students are returning to class this week after the winter break. Eligible residents can earn up to $75 in gift cards, one for each dose, including a booster shot. 4:00AM, Order on required us of a face mask in certain public space pic.twitter.com/bibjDrdzUL. Health officials continue emphasizing that those most at risk for the virus are unvaccinated, and that booster shots, in particular, provide significant protection from serious illness, hospitalization and death. The district will align with the states March 12 date to make face coverings optional on campus, but until then, masks are required, she noted. So let's do that, and other folks who are not yet vaccinated, certainly it's time to get vaccinated.". Jenkins is also encouraging people to wear masks. By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. Earlier this week, Travis County returned to Stage 4, a less restrictive tier of COVID-19 guidelines. A new temporary drive-thru COVID-19 testing site opens today in Arlington. "71% of Dallas County residents have received at least one shot, but a little over 15% have received their booster," Jenkins said in a statement Friday. The city of Fort Worth offers new mobile testing sites. "We would like to see our education agency in Texas actually look at what is happening in our schools and not follow what our governor is saying -- who does not know what is happening in our school systems," Molina said. "They came to me with a proposal, and they said, Listen, you know, scale back New Year's Eve. Testing is available at the Denton County Public Health building and Westside Baptist Church this week. State hospitals provide inpatient psychiatric care and state-supported living centers offer residential services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Charlie Scudder was a general assignment reporter and worked on the features and news desks for eight years. The county judge said he received input from retailers associations, restaurants associations, chambers of commerce and school district superintendents when crafting the mask order. Read the full story by The Texas Tribune. With coronavirus cases falling fast, California also is lifting a requirement that people produce a negative coronavirus test before visiting hospitals and nursing homes, effective immediately. The district needed nearly 170 substitutes but could only fill less than 50% of those positions. We're also reaching out in this phase of the pandemic to those individuals who might have limited access," said Richardson. Share this article. Pediatric COVID admissions at Cook Children's hospital have more than tripled in the past week. Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic enters NBA's COVID-19 protocols. Officials received a report from a lab in Frisco yesterday showing a man from Tarrant County in his 30s and a man from Collin County in his 40s tested positive. Dallas Cowboys Coach Mike McCarthy, who recently had COVID-19, said Friday switching to virtual meetings was fine. Richardson also addressed the new Omicron variant of the coronavirus. Schools may also develop additional requirements such as maintaining at least 3 feet of physical distance between students within classrooms. Both the average daily case count and the average daily death count are way down from January. It helps families of students with disabilities cover the cost of services, such as tutoring, from state-approved vendors. "We definitely have seen an increase in adults and in pediatrics, so we're definitely seeing a surge," Love said. Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins and. Texas has previously sued over federal vaccine requirements for large companies, health care workers, federal contractors, and the Head Start program. If you choose a fabric mask, opt for one with three of more cloth layers. Omicron cases and hospitalizations are declining in Dallas County, although numbers are still high overall. Dallas County will continue offering $25 gift cards to those getting a COVID-19 vaccine. Only 23 adult ICU beds were available in Dallas County as of Thursday. It's just readily apparent that this is so easily spread now and so it's concerning, especially with school coming back. There is no civil or criminal penalty for individuals who do not follow the order. 2022 at 4:53 PM CDT Facebook; Twitter; Read More: A Timeline Of COVID-19's Spread In North Texas. Greg Abbott for banning mask mandates in schools. First U.S. case of COVID-19 omicron variant identified. Masks mandates dropping at OC schools have some pleased, others wary Denton County Public Health's assistant director yesterday told county commissioners COVID-related hospitalizations are down from earlier peaks. After CDC revises COVID-19 recommendations, Dallas County narrows its mask mandate. The The results of the 1,2000 registered voter poll were taken early this month and are largely unchanged from a poll taken last October, before the most recent pandemic surge. Following new CDC guidelines, Jenkins revises Dallas County's mask mandate At a briefing Thursday, Superintendent Michael Hinojosa said masks will be "recommended" as of Feb. 28. Testing and masking remain important tools in slowing the spread," said Dr. Toms J. Aragn, CDPH Director and State Public Health Officer. The county is focusing on reaching people in jail and juvenile detention centers and those without permanent housing. All 32 football teams must require masks in their facilities, only offer grab-and-go meals and hold meetings virtually for at least the next few days. Paxton and the Texas Public Policy Foundation, a conservative think tank, are suing the Biden administration over the federal air travel mask requirement. So, clearly, our response was effective, Brownell said of the statistics reported by the New York Times in October. This is for all of us, we are all team public health and the enemy is the virus and right now the enemy is winning, Jenkins said. Communities now have more tools to protect themselves from the virus, including an increased access to vaccines, testing and high-quality masks. With things moving in the right direction, we are making responsible modifications to COVID-19 prevention measures, while also continuing to develop a longer-term action plan for the state.. In Tarrant County, it's forecasted to be a 13% spike. Dallas county released its latest COVID-19 case count Tuesday evening, revealing 1,619 new positive cases and 19 deaths. Insurance is not required. Sneha Dey. US extends mask rule on planes and public transportation, but could Further strain could come from health care staff getting omicron, Huang said. So we are having to request quite a few subs, and it is difficult to get subs sometimes.. Dallas ISD announced it will require face masks on district property beginning Tuesday, defying an executive order from Gov. Each can receive up to $75,000 in funding. from the CA COVID Team or your local health department tries to connect. Theres a fear for the students who cannot get a vaccine yet, our young students," Molina said. This is going to squeeze access," Richardson said. Many told her they plan to continue wearing masks in the classroom regardless of a mandate, she said. The FDA recommends the eligibility for teens will be five months instead of six. Dallas County is once again under a mask mandate as COVID-19 delta variant cases and hospitalizations soar. Amid the Omicron surge, experts say the COVID-19 vaccines are still protecting people against severe illness. Officials say they're also seeing an uptick in hospitalizations. While the omicron variant is still new, Miff said there are a few things that the group knows for sure: it spreads faster than any other variant. 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Emily Williams Knight is the TRA's president and CEO. State researchers project the latest surge in COVID hospitalizations will surpass last year's peak. So on Monday, as local school districts started preparing plans to go mask-optional in less than two weeks under newly announced changes to state guidelines, reactions from parents to teachers proved, perhaps unsurprisingly, mixed. Heres What You Need To Know. The best stories from KERA sent to your inbox. Greg Abbott has waged legal fights with the Biden administration and with cities, counties and school districts over bids to require masks. Most do not expect their supply chains to return to normal for months. The CDC announced earlier on Friday a new system for monitoring the virus, which designates individual counties as being at low, medium or high risk of residents contracting COVID-19. Dallas County Coronavirus (COVID-19) Updates and Information Public Health Director Matt Richardson updated County Commissioners Tuesday on efforts to increase vaccinations as cases decrease. Huang said he encourages everyone whos eligible to get boosted to do so as soon as possible. He said the person was a traveler who returned from South Africa on Nov. 22 and tested positive on Nov. 29. The district at the end of the mandate period will reevaluate whether to extend it another two weeks or allow it to expire. Parkland Hospital opens new COVID-19 testing site. "We're much better prepared to do the virtual clearly, and I thought it was very smooth," McCarthy said. If the data turns around and tells us that we need to go back to a protocol that requires us to wear masks, we will not hesitate to do that, Hinojosa said. Dallas County opens up four new drive-thru testing sites this week. There have been 74,685COVID-19 deaths since the start of the pandemic. Federal courts have now blocked each of the requirements nationwide. Masks mandates dropping at OC schools have some, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Masks mandates dropping at OC schools have some pleased, others wary, See how COVID deaths are plummeting this spring, COVID-sniffing dogs can help detect infections in K-12 schools, new California study suggests. It was also considering mandating post-arrival testing. Dallas County yesterday reported nine more COVID-19 deaths between Sunday and Tuesday and nearly 9,400 new coronavirus cases. But, the job market recovery is still ongoing. "And if you have vulnerable people that you're celebrating with keep that in mind.". Ovidia Molina heads the Texas State Teachers Association. ! Texas and other Republican-led states have sued the Biden administration over vaccine mandates for health care workers, large companies, and federal contractors. School masking rules have turned school board meetings heated in several districts. The Texas Education Agency's recommendations updated Friday are based on the latest CDC guidelines. Similarly, Huang said, deaths are also afflicting non-vaccinated people way more than those whove had the shot. This development came less than a month after the first reported U.S. case of the variant. All Federal employees, onsite contractors, and visitors, regardless of vaccination status, must wear a high-quality mask inside of Federal buildings in areas where the COVID-19 community level is high, or where required by local mask mandates, as further explained below. Once that happens, itll change everything for me, she said. "We are down to 47 COVID-19 hospitalizations in Denton County, a marvelous, marvelous decline, but it is still unwinding a little more slowly," said health director Matt Richardson. A week earlier, roughly 10,400 Texans filed claims, which would be considered especially low even before the onset of the pandemic in March 2020. It plans to keep indoor mask requirements in place until the county has two straight weeks at or below a moderate rate of 50 new cases per 100,000 people and there arent any reports of a new, troubling variant circulating, Ferrer said. There are currently 9,659 patients with COVID in Texas. The latest closures come as numerous districts across North Texas resumed classes this week after calling off classes late last week. On Thursday, the Food and Drug Administration gave emergency authorization for 16- and 17-year-olds to get a third dose of the vaccine made by Pfizer and its partner BioNTech. We still are hanging on to our vendor locations and public health locations, but some of the public health locations that we're seeing max capacity of about 200 - 250 a day are seeing less than 20, Taneja said. We want to make sure everyone takes all the precautions and does everything they can to slow the spread," said Dr. Philip Huang, director of Dallas County Health and Human Services. As the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention mark a new stage of the pandemic by loosening masking guidelines, Dallas County has quickly scaled back its mask mandate. Paxton told a conservative radio talk show host Wednesday he hoped to have a decision in his favor from the Texas Supreme Court by early next week. FEMA distributed more than $159 million in financial assistance to help cover funeral expenses for COVID-19 related deaths. When we give someone a booster, what we're doing is really enhancing the immune response," Perl said. COVID-19 hospitalizations in North Texas are expected to see record numbers this month. All campuses and facilities were closed Thursday and Friday for cleaning and misting. Hospitalizations have dropped 5%. Before that, she was a breaking news reporter for Florida Today and Treasure Coast Newspapers. He says while online learning is not the best way to teach, it can stop the spread of the virus. During this same time period, 75% of patients received test results in one day and 97% received them within two days. Check out more information about testing and vaccination in Tarrant County. The announcement comes as the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Dallas County Health officials have raised the COVID-19 alert to level red and reported that hospitalizations are rising at the fastest rate since the pandemic began, among all age groups, including children. The affected infusion centers are located in Austin, El Paso, Fort Worth, San Antonio, and The Woodlands. Masks again mandatory in Dallas County schools, businesses but Gov. The state currently has more than 20,000 National Guard members, the largest contingent of any state. I dont really know where to go from here., In the Saddleback Valley Unified School District, Superintendent Crystal Turner noted in a message to parents Monday that district officials acknowledge that this new guidance is welcome news for some families and staff members, while for others, it is a source of concern., Turners message to parents noted that district officials will continue to follow safety guidance from state and county health officials, along with strongly respecting the masking choice of each individual.. Bray went over the data with Dallas city council members during the Ad Hoc Committee on COVID-19 Recovery and Assistance committee meeting on Thursday. The six-day average of vaccinations was 70.33 on Monday, down from 708.83 on Jan. 9. State health officials announced Monday night that the adult female, a Harris County resident, was recently diagnosed with COVID-19. For more than a month, weekly claims in Texas have hit new lows since the pandemic began. The testing positivity rate is 2.2% (average rate over 7 days). Ovidia Molina, President of the Texas State Teachers Association, emphasized a shorter quarantine time should also come with more local control. CDC expands boosters to include 16- and 17-year-olds. Email Alejandra at amartinez@kera.org. So we want to conserve those tests for those that truly needed.. "We've distributed approximately $1.97 billion in rent and utility assistance to more than 307,000 households across the state," Wilkinson said. Just a couple months ago, schools throughout the county were facing staffing shortages, with large numbers of teachers at home during a winter surge fueled by the Omicron variant. In a statement Friday, Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins stressed the importance of getting boosters ahead of holiday gatherings. Dallas County's COVID numbers are showing slight improvement, but transmission threat still remains high.