Dallas County reports 24 more cases of coronavirus, 2 deaths; Carrollton DPS worker lied about test

Updated at 7:45 p.m.: Revised to include information about cases in Collin and Ellis counties.

Dallas County reported 24 more cases of the new coronavirus Monday, bringing the total number of cases to 155. Two additional deaths were reported, making the county’s total four.

The deaths were both Dallas men in their 60s, one who had high-risk chronic health conditions and one who did not.

The totals come on the same day a shelter-in-place order for residents begins at 11:59 p.m.

Officials also announced Monday that age restrictions will be lifted at the county’s two COVID-19 testing sites.

Now, anyone with a cough, shortness of breath and a temperature of 99.6 or higher may be tested at either location — the American Airlines Center near downtown Dallas or the Ellis Davis Field House in Red Bird, which are open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

You don’t have to be a Dallas County resident to get tested.

The University of Texas at Dallas said Monday that its research labs have donated masks, gowns and gloves to Parkland Memorial Hospital to help first responders and “frontline medical providers” do their jobs during the outbreak.

The hospital recently accepted 72,000 gloves, 1,100 face masks and 69 special N95 masks from the staff at UT Dallas’ Office of Research. The school’s faculty members provided the supplies.

Dr. Joseph Pancrazio, UT Dallas’ research vice president, said in a written statement that UT Dallas “wanted to set an example for the region” by donating supplies that hospitals need during a pandemic. He said such equipment is “common at Tier 1 research universities like UT Dallas.”

DPS worker tested negative

An employee of the Texas Department of Public Safety who works at the Carrollton driver’s license office lied last week about having COVID-19, officials said.

The agency had reported late Thursday that two employees, one in Carrollton and one in Belton, had tested positive for the disease.

In a written statement Monday about the Carrollton worker, DPS said “this individual provided us with false information” and had actually tested negative.

The department said that it was taking disciplinary action against the employee, whose name was not released, and that it would take steps to prevent similar incidents.

Collin County

Collin County officials announced seven new coronavirus cases Monday, bringing the total there to 45.

The patients are a 39-year-old Allen woman, a 27-year-old Anna man, a 29-year-old Dallas man, a 34-year-old McKinney woman, a 43-year-old McKinney man, a 26-year-old Plano woman and a 46-year-old Plano man.

The McKinney man has required hospitalization and the other six are isolated at home, officials said.

Tarrant County

In Tarrant County, 10 new cases were reported Monday.

The county has 54 active COVID-19 cases, as well as one death and two patients who have recovered.

Denton County

Denton County officials announced six additional cases of COVID-19 on Monday.

The cases bring the county’s total number to 36.

Of those, the largest number – nine – are in the city of Denton, according to data released by the county health department. A third of the patients are 60 or older, but nearly another third are younger than 40. The most common form of transmission was recent travel, according to the county’s data.

Ellis County

Ellis County announced its sixth coronavirus case, a Midlothian resident who is in home isolation.

The patient contracted the virus through community spread, officials said.

Parker County

A Parker County justice of the peace has tested positive for COVID-19.

Justice of the Peace Precinct 1 Judge Kelvin Miles said on Facebook that he became ill March 14.

The Weatherford Democrat reported that Parker County had only one case as of Monday morning.

Plano federal courthouse closed

The Plano federal courthouse has been shut down until April 1 after employees were exposed last week to a visitor with a presumptive positive diagnosis for COVID-19, officials said.

The visitor, whose identity was not released, entered the courthouse about 10 a.m. Wednesday and did not tell security personnel of his exposure until he went through the screening, said David O’Toole, clerk of court for the Eastern District of Texas.

The man was there to conduct business and did not self-quarantine as required, O’Toole said.

Courthouse staff members will “practice self-isolation for the next 14 days and telework,” according to an order from Rodney Gilstrap, the chief judge of the Eastern District of Texas.

Gilstrap said in his order that anyone who was in the courthouse at 7940 Preston Road that day should self-isolate, monitor for symptoms and seek medical attention as a precaution, as directed by their health-care provider.

O’Toole said the courthouse will be sanitized before reopening.