More coronavirus cases reported Friday in Groves, Nederland & Port Arthur
Published 7:37 pm Friday, June 19, 2020
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Mid-County and Port Arthur saw a double digit jump in confirmed coronavirus cases Friday.
The City of Port Arthur Health Department received confirmation of four additional Port Arthur residents who tested positive for COVID-19.
These individuals include three females between the age ranges of 15-20; 30-35; and 40-45.
The other individual is a male between the age range of 50-55.
This brings the total to 116 individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19 in Port Arthur.
The Port Arthur and Jefferson County Health Departments received confirmation of one additional positive COVID-19 case in a resident of Groves. This individual is a female between the age range of 85-90.
This brings the total to 24 individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19 for the City of Groves.
Also Friday, the Port Arthur and Jefferson County Health Departments received confirmation of five additional Nederland residents who tested positive for coronavirus disease.
The individuals include two females in the age ranges of 20-25 and 55-60.
The other individuals are males between the age ranges of 55-60 and 85-90.
This brings the total to 28 individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19 Nederland.
Texas health officials on Friday reported 3,454 new cases, a slight dip from Thursday’s record high of 3,516. But Texas also reported a new record of 3,148 hospitalizations, more than double the total on Memorial Day.
The actual number of people who have contracted the virus that causes COVID-19 is likely higher because many people have not been tested and studies suggest that people can be infected and not feel sick.
Gov. Abbott’s aggressive push to reopen the economy continued Friday with amusement parks and carnivals around the state allowed to reopen. Six Flags parks in Arlington and San Antonio opened to members and pass holders and will open to everyone on Monday.
The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission conducted undercover inspections of bars this week to see if they were following social distancing guidelines and found most were in compliance. Of more than 200 inspected, only three —in Dallas, McAllen and El Paso— had their alcohol licenses suspended. An agency spokesman said inspections will continue this weekend.
Texas is set to unveil guidelines for a return to the school in August for the fall semester. Education Commissioner Mike Morath said this week that state officials have determined it will be safe for public schools to reopen. The state will not require more than 5 million Texas students to wear masks, but districts will have flexibility to set local policies.
The state also will provide some flexibility for families who want to keep their children in distance learning programs from home, Morath said.
Abbott ordered schools to close March 19, and teacher advocates question whether the reopening will adequately address safety. The Texas American Federation of Teachers and the Texas State Teachers Association both attacked moves to reopen as unsafe.
For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms that clear up within weeks. But for others, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, the highly contagious virus can cause severe illness, including pneumonia, and be fatal.
The Texas Workforce Commission announced Friday the state added 291,000 private sector jobs in May, reducing the state’s jobless rate during the pandemic from a record high 14% in April to 13%. Most of the jobs came in the leisure and hospitality industry, the commission said.