"Coronavirus in Texas: Dallas County judge reports at least 10 more deaths; nearly 14,000 Texans have tested positive for the virus" was first published by The Texas Tribune.
Tuesday’s biggest developments:
- Dallas County judge: At least 10 more deaths in the county
- Report: Up to a third of Texas coronavirus-related deaths occurred in long-term facilities
- Texas Railroad Commission will discuss oil production cuts amid coronavirus pandemic
- State nearing 14,000 cases of people who have tested positive for the novel coronavirus
Report: Up to a third of Texas coronavirus-related deaths occurred in long-term facilities
As many as one third of every known coronavirus-related death in Texas occurred in a long-term care facility, like a nursing home or assisted living community, The Dallas Morning News reports.
At least one resident or staff member tested positive for the virus in 16 percent of the state’s 198 nursing homes. Fifty-two of the state’s 2,002 assisted care facilities confirmed infection, The News reported. Across the state, 70 people died of COVID-19 in nursing homes and 24 people died in assisted living facilities as of Monday.
Statewide, the number of deaths reached 287 on Monday. The actual percentage of Texas coronavirus deaths in long-term care facilities is probably higher, between 25 percent and 33 percent, health officials say, The News reports. The discrepancy in numbers comes from the lag between when long-term care facilities report updates to the health commission and when statewide numbers are posted. — Stacy Fernández
Jenkins: Dallas County announcing at least 10 more deaths
During an interview with The Texas Tribune’s Patrick Svitek on Tuesday morning, Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins said the county will announce at least 10 new deaths and “a lot of new illnesses” at a press conference.
“Every one of those is a person with a family, so that gives concern,” Jenkins said. He added that the county appears to be flattening its curve. “That's giving us cause for optimism and hope,” Jenkins said. “But we’re in the middle, we’re not in the end, so we have to stay focused. ... Don’t let up now.”
Jenkins said it was too early to tell whether the city would extend its stay-at-home order, which is set to expire on April 30. Jenkins said he’ll make a decision as the date nears. — Alex Samuels
Texas officials to discuss request that state cut oil production
[5 a.m.] Attention from across the oil and gas world will turn to Texas on Tuesday as state regulators hold a virtual public meeting to consider cutting oil production, which hasn’t been done in the state since the 1970s.
The single item on Tuesday’s agenda of the Texas Railroad Commission is to discuss the request of two large Texas oil companies, Pioneer Natural Resources based in Irving and Parsley Energy based in Austin, that the state cut oil production as global demand has plunged. At Tuesday's meeting, the commission is expected to “determine reasonable market demand for oil in the state of Texas.”
Despite its name, the Texas Railroad Commission regulates the huge oil and gas industry and not railroads.
The price of West Texas Intermediate crude closed at around $23 per barrel Monday, following a development Sunday in which a large group of oil-producing countries, including Saudi Arabia, Russia and the United States, agreed to slash oil production by 9.7 million barrels a day beginning in May, which amounts to the largest-ever coordinated cut.
But the devastating decline in oil consumption as a result of the coronavirus pandemic has already affected Texas oil producers.
Chairman Wayne Christian and Commissioners Christi Craddick and Ryan Sitton will lead the 9:30 a.m. commission meeting. There are 55 speakers scheduled to provide three-minute presentations, and written comments have been submitted to the commissioners by the scheduled speakers and others across the industry. — Mitchell Ferman
Coronavirus alters parole programs Texas prisoners must complete before being released
[5 a.m.] As the nation is seeing a push to get more people out from behind bars during the new coronavirus outbreak, Texas advocates are asking the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles to immediately release people who have already been granted parole but still need to complete education or treatment programs. They argue that these people can continue their programs online or outside of prisons, which are known incubators for disease.
But the idea of increased release has met steady resistance from some law enforcement and Texas officials who fear letting more people out of prison and jail could lead to more crime during what is already a disastrous time for the state.
But relatives of Texas prisoners approved for parole question why their loved ones have to stay in disease-prone facilities while completing programs they say could be done virtually and from home. — Jolie McCullough
Texas nears 14,000 cases and exceeds 280 deaths
[5 a.m.] On Tuesday, Texas officials are expected to disclose the most recent number of people who have tested positive for the new coronavirus. More than 13,900 have contract the virus, according to numbers released Monday. More than 280 people have died.
This article originally appeared in The Texas Tribune at https://www.texastribune.org/2020/04/14/coronavirus-texas-nearly-14000-texans-have-tested-positive/.
The Texas Tribune is proud to celebrate 10 years of exceptional journalism for an exceptional state. Explore the next 10 years with us.
Tuesday’s biggest developments:
- Dallas County judge: At least 10 more deaths in the county
- Report: Up to a third of Texas coronavirus-related deaths occurred in long-term facilities
- Texas Railroad Commission will discuss oil production cuts amid coronavirus pandemic
- State nearing 14,000 cases of people who have tested positive for the novel coronavirus
Report: Up to a third of Texas coronavirus-related deaths occurred in long-term facilities
As many as one third of every known coronavirus-related death in Texas occurred in a long-term care facility, like a nursing home or assisted living community, The Dallas Morning News reports.
At least one resident or staff member tested positive for the virus in 16 percent of the state’s 198 nursing homes. Fifty-two of the state’s 2,002 assisted care facilities confirmed infection, The News reported. Across the state, 70 people died of COVID-19 in nursing homes and 24 people died in assisted living facilities as of Monday.
Statewide, the number of deaths reached 287 on Monday. The actual percentage of Texas coronavirus deaths in long-term care facilities is probably higher, between 25 percent and 33 percent, health officials say, The News reports. The discrepancy in numbers comes from the lag between when long-term care facilities report updates to the health commission and when statewide numbers are posted. — Stacy Fernández
Jenkins: Dallas County announcing at least 10 more deaths
During an interview with The Texas Tribune’s Patrick Svitek on Tuesday morning, Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins said the county will announce at least 10 new deaths and “a lot of new illnesses” at a press conference.
“Every one of those is a person with a family, so that gives concern,” Jenkins said. He added that the county appears to be flattening its curve. “That's giving us cause for optimism and hope,” Jenkins said. “But we’re in the middle, we’re not in the end, so we have to stay focused. ... Don’t let up now.”
Jenkins said it was too early to tell whether the city would extend its stay-at-home order, which is set to expire on April 30. Jenkins said he’ll make a decision as the date nears. — Alex Samuels
Texas officials to discuss request that state cut oil production
[5 a.m.] Attention from across the oil and gas world will turn to Texas on Tuesday as state regulators hold a virtual public meeting to consider cutting oil production, which hasn’t been done in the state since the 1970s.
The single item on Tuesday’s agenda of the Texas Railroad Commission is to discuss the request of two large Texas oil companies, Pioneer Natural Resources based in Irving and Parsley Energy based in Austin, that the state cut oil production as global demand has plunged. At Tuesday's meeting, the commission is expected to “determine reasonable market demand for oil in the state of Texas.”
Despite its name, the Texas Railroad Commission regulates the huge oil and gas industry and not railroads.
The price of West Texas Intermediate crude closed at around $23 per barrel Monday, following a development Sunday in which a large group of oil-producing countries, including Saudi Arabia, Russia and the United States, agreed to slash oil production by 9.7 million barrels a day beginning in May, which amounts to the largest-ever coordinated cut.
But the devastating decline in oil consumption as a result of the coronavirus pandemic has already affected Texas oil producers.
Chairman Wayne Christian and Commissioners Christi Craddick and Ryan Sitton will lead the 9:30 a.m. commission meeting. There are 55 speakers scheduled to provide three-minute presentations, and written comments have been submitted to the commissioners by the scheduled speakers and others across the industry. — Mitchell Ferman
Coronavirus alters parole programs Texas prisoners must complete before being released
[5 a.m.] As the nation is seeing a push to get more people out from behind bars during the new coronavirus outbreak, Texas advocates are asking the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles to immediately release people who have already been granted parole but still need to complete education or treatment programs. They argue that these people can continue their programs online or outside of prisons, which are known incubators for disease.
But the idea of increased release has met steady resistance from some law enforcement and Texas officials who fear letting more people out of prison and jail could lead to more crime during what is already a disastrous time for the state.
But relatives of Texas prisoners approved for parole question why their loved ones have to stay in disease-prone facilities while completing programs they say could be done virtually and from home. — Jolie McCullough
Texas nears 14,000 cases and exceeds 280 deaths
[5 a.m.] On Tuesday, Texas officials are expected to disclose the most recent number of people who have tested positive for the new coronavirus. More than 13,900 have contract the virus, according to numbers released Monday. More than 280 people have died.
This article originally appeared in The Texas Tribune at https://www.texastribune.org/2020/04/14/coronavirus-texas-nearly-14000-texans-have-tested-positive/.
The Texas Tribune is proud to celebrate 10 years of exceptional journalism for an exceptional state. Explore the next 10 years with us.
