Public Health – Page 10 – Tarrant County Physician Online

Tarrant County students will not be returning for in-person classes until Sept. 28

Tarrant County students will not return to school until Sept. 28 under a Joint Control Order issued today by Local Health Authorities from Tarrant County, City of Arlington and the City of Burleson.

Under the order, all public and non-religious private schools are not to re-open for on-campus, face-to-face instruction or activities until Sept.28. Some activities are allowed, though social distancing, facial coverings and other safety protocols must still be observed:

Administrators, teachers and staff may conduct remote learning while on-campus
All events and activities, including clubs, sports, band, choir, fairs, exhibitions, academic and/or athletic competitions and similar student activities may take place remotely or outdoors in accordance with current social distancing and masking guidelines.
Special education instruction may occur when necessary and in accordance with TEA guidelines when feasible
Students whose individual education plans cannot be implemented with remote learning or who have limited household connectivity to the internet may be provided in-person instruction
All school systems shall re-open schools through remote learning only as per each school system’s own plan and may provide curbside meals from school campuses

The new order requires each school district to provide the Local Health Authority a written plan for resuming on-campus instruction and extra-curricular activities no later than two weeks before re-opening school. Tarrant County Public Health Director Vinny Taneja said the order is needed to continue to slow the spread of COVID-19.

“The safety of our children is our greatest concern along with the health of their parents, teachers and friends,” said Tarrant County Public Health Director Vinny Taneja. “With community spread actively in place, our children going to school would undo everything that our stay at home and mask-wearing efforts have tried to accomplish.”

The order, effective today, was signed jointly by all three Local Health Authorities, Dr. Catherine Colquitt for Tarrant County Public Health, Dr. Cynthia Simmons for the City of Arlington and Dr. Steve Martin for the City of Burleson.

To read the Joint Control Order go here. Or for questions, call the Tarrant County Public Health information line at (817) 248-6299.

Tarrant County COVID-19 Activity – 7/21/20

COVID-19 Positive cases: 22,665*

COVID-19 related deaths: 304

Recovered COVID-19 cases: 10,894

Data from Tarrant County Public Heath’s (TCPH) report of COVID-19 activity in Tarrant County, updated Tuesday, July 21, 2020. Find more COVID-19 information from TCPH here.

* These data are provisional and are subject to change at any time.

Deaths and recovered cases are included in total COVID-19 positive cases.

Tarrant County COVID-19 Activity – 7/16/20

COVID-19 Positive cases: 20,433*

COVID-19 related deaths: 283

Recovered COVID-19 cases: 9918

Data from Tarrant County Public Heath’s (TCPH) report of COVID-19 activity in Tarrant County, updated Thursday, July 16, 2020. Find more COVID-19 information from TCPH here.

* These data are provisional and are subject to change at any time.

Deaths and recovered cases are included in total COVID-19 positive cases.

Tarrant County COVID-19 Activity – 7/15/20

COVID-19 Positive cases: 19,871*

COVID-19 related deaths: 277

Recovered COVID-19 cases: 9619

Data from Tarrant County Public Heath’s (TCPH) report of COVID-19 activity in Tarrant County, updated Wednesday, July 15, 2020. Find more COVID-19 information from TCPH here.

* These data are provisional and are subject to change at any time.

Deaths and recovered cases are included in total COVID-19 positive cases.

West Nile cases on the rise; Tarrant County residents urged to take precautions

West Nile Virus (WNV) has reemerged as a current health threat in North Texas. Tarrant County Public Health is advising residents to take extra care as WNV cases increase across the county. Public Health Director Vinny Taneja said precautions against WNV are particularly important during the current pandemic.

“It’s prudent to stay focused on protecting against COVID-19, and although mosquitoes do not carry the COVID-19 virus, we don’t want to minimize the dangers of West Nile right now,” Taneja said. The symptoms are similar and since it can be hard to tell the difference, he encouraged residents to see a doctor if they experience fever, cough or sore throat. “We want to remind everyone to protect themselves against mosquitoes by wearing long sleeves and pants and using repellents when outside.”

Tarrant County Vector Control Supervisor Nina Dacko said most of the positive mosquito results have been in northeast Tarrant County. “In 2018 and 2019, the number of positive mosquito pool samples were very low, which is cause for concern this summer,” Dacko said. “Environmental factors are ripe for the virus to make a big comeback and recent rains also allow more mosquitoes to thrive in hot weather like Texas is experiencing right now.”

Here is a list of mosquito repellents endorsed by the FDA and CDC. Tarrant County Public Health also has more information about West Nile Virus and other preventive measures residents can take at Be Mosquito Free.

Tarrant County COVID-19 Activity – 7/14/20

COVID-19 Positive cases: 19,014*

COVID-19 related deaths: 272

Recovered COVID-19 cases: 9031

Data from Tarrant County Public Heath’s (TCPH) report of COVID-19 activity in Tarrant County, updated Tuesday, July 14, 2020. Find more COVID-19 information from TCPH here.

* These data are provisional and are subject to change at any time.

Deaths and recovered cases are included in total COVID-19 positive cases.

Tarrant County COVID-19 Activity – 7/10/20

COVID-19 Positive cases: 17,334*

COVID-19 related deaths: 262

Recovered COVID-19 cases: 7730

Data from Tarrant County Public Heath’s (TCPH) report of COVID-19 activity in Tarrant County, updated Friday, July 10, 2020. Find more COVID-19 information from TCPH here.

* These data are provisional and are subject to change at any time.

Deaths and recovered cases are included in total COVID-19 positive cases.

Call for Contact Tracing Volunteers in Tarrant County

By Allison Howard, TCMS Staff

Join with Tarrant County Public Health (TCPH) in the fight against COVID-19 by volunteering as a contact tracer. As coronavirus numbers continue to rise in Texas, it is critical that we learn more about the virus and use preventative measures to avoid its continued spread. One of the best ways to do so is through contact tracing; by using this tried and true method to further understand how the virus is passing from individual to individual, we are learning information that empowers and protects out community.

“There are only a few tools available to suppress the spread of coronavirus,” says Fort Worth physician Robert Rogers, MD. “Contact tracing is one of the most important tools, particularly as we strive to get our new case numbers under control.”

TCPH is managing local contact tracing, but due to surging numbers in recent weeks, the information that needs to be gathered far outpaces what TCPH can manage with its current staff. The group is working on hiring additional staff members to meet the need but foresees a gap in manpower throughout the rest of July and August. Volunteers are stepping in to make the difference.

Retired physician Kendra Belfi, MD, wanted to help throughout the crisis, but she was limited because of her health. “I had given up my license a few years after I retired and am also in a high-risk group for COVID-19 because of my age and lung condition,” says Dr. Belfi. Volunteering as a contract tracer is a safe and effective way for her to help the community at this critical time. “I figure that whatever I do takes a little of the burden off the health department employees.”

It is important to know that you do not need to be a physician to volunteer. “I am only a first-year medical student, so in March, when the pandemic began, I felt helpless,” says Nathalie Scherer, a student from the TCU and UNTHSC School of Medicine. “I was listening to physician stories from around the country, and it felt frustrating that I was unable to do more to help out. Volunteering as a contact tracer has let me be involved in a meaningful way, given the skills I currently have. It’s gratifying to be able to help, even if it is something as simple as talking to people over the phone.”

Additional volunteers are needed, so if you are interested, contact Kathryn Narumiya at knarumiya@tcms.org for more information.

“I am not a specialist in emergency medicine, a hospitalist, or an intensivist, yet I wanted to use my medical training to help in the response to the pandemic,” says Dr. Rogers, who has been assisting with contact tracing since TCPH reached out for support from the community. “Volunteering as a contact tracer has provided that opportunity.”

Tarrant County COVID-19 Activity – 7/9/20

COVID-19 Positive cases: 16,700*

COVID-19 related deaths: 259

Recovered COVID-19 cases: 7490

Data from Tarrant County Public Heath’s (TCPH) report of COVID-19 activity in Tarrant County, updated Thursday, July 9, 2020. Find more COVID-19 information from TCPH here.

* These data are provisional and are subject to change at any time.

Deaths and recovered cases are included in total COVID-19 positive cases.

Tarrant County COVID-19 Activity – 7/8/20

COVID-19 Positive cases: 16,180*

COVID-19 related deaths: 254

Recovered COVID-19 cases: 7018

Data from Tarrant County Public Heath’s (TCPH) report of COVID-19 activity in Tarrant County, updated Wednesday, July 8, 2020. Find more COVID-19 information from TCPH here.

* These data are provisional and are subject to change at any time.

Deaths and recovered cases are included in total COVID-19 positive cases.