BEAUMONT, Texas — This article contains ongoing U.S. and international updates on the COVID-19 pandemic and its effects. Here are some key updates for Friday, August 14, 2020. You can find more details by scrolling through the story which we are updating throughout the day. The newest items will be at the top.
Today's Headlines:
- Port Arthur Health department reports 2 new coronavirus-related deaths
- Utah high schools return to football, with virus precautions
Aug. 14, 8 p.m. — Hardin Jefferson ISD reported a Hardin Jefferson High School student has a lab-confirmed case of COVID-19. The student was last on campus August 14. Other students who were in close contact with the student who tested positive were asked to quarantine for 14 days. The Lady Hawks volleyball team canceled games that were scheduled for Friday and Saturday.
Aug. 14, 1:40 p.m. — Port Arthur Health department reports two additional coronavirus-related deaths. Health officials say the two who died were men from Southeast Texas.
One man from Port Arthur was between the ages of 65 and 70-years-old. The other man was from Nederland and was between the ages of 90 and 95-years-old. Both individuals had underlying health issues, Health officials say. This is the 20th COVID-19 related death for Port Arthur and the seventh for Nederland, records show.
Aug. 14, 6:30 a.m. — Coronavirus testing is available in Beaumont today at the old Central High School at 88 Jaguar Drive in the girls gym on the north side of the campus.
No registrations is required for the test which will be available from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. today.
RELATED: Where can I get a COVID-19 test?
Aug. 14, 6:30 a.m. — Authorities have arrested three people in connection with an attack on a teenaged Chili’s hostess who refused to seat a party together due to coronavirus social distancing policies.
WBRZ-TV reports that Baton Rouge police arrested Tammy Dabney, 48, Rodneka Dabney, 27, and Erica Dabney, 46 in connection with the attack on Sunday, Aug. 9.
Kelsy Wallace, 17, said she was attacked after she refused to seat a large group of about 13 people at a single table, which she says was against the company’s COVID-19 policies.
Wallace said she sat six people at one table, but she could not seat the rest of the party because there were more than six people. She said the group became increasingly upset and she tried to get her manager. That’s when she was attacked, Baton Rouge police say.
Aug. 14, 6 a.m. — Thursday's game in Utah was believed to be the first high school match-up on the gridiron since the start of the coronavirus -19 pandemic.
Fans wore masks and players drank from their own water bottles instead of sharing Thursday night at what was said to be the first high school football game in the United States since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.
The stands were sold out at 25% capacity at Herriman High School in Utah as the Mustangs took on the Davis High School Darts, news outlets reported. The game was believed to be the first high school matchup on the gridiron as schools across the country debate whether to play this fall amid COVID-19 concerns.
The home team's marching band wasn't present, though both schools brought cheerleaders to the game. They wore masks before kickoff but, like the players, did not during the game.
Tickets were sold online and scanned as fans entered the stadium so the school can carry out contact tracing after the game if necessary, KUTV reported. Fans were asked to keep their masks on for the entire game.
Aug. 14, 1 a.m. — More and more teachers in an Arizona school district have resigned over the district’s decision to return to in-person classroom learning, despite COVID- 19 safety benchmarks not being met.
Those teachers have been put in a difficult position. The district says it will fine them for breaking their contracts. The teachers signed contracts when they started, saying they would finish out the school year.
Queen Creek School District officials said that seven teachers have chosen to resign because of the board’s decision to open up classrooms Monday, against state recommendations. But the teachers said that the number of resignations is much higher.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here’s the breakdown by county of coronavirus cases for the eight-county Southeast Texas region...
GET NEWS & WEATHER ALERTS | Download the 12News App to your mobile device
Coronavirus symptoms
The symptoms of coronavirus can be similar to the flu or a bad cold. Symptoms include a fever, cough and shortness of breath, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
Most healthy people will have mild symptoms. A study of more than 72,000 patients by the Centers for Disease Control in China showed 80 percent of the cases there were mild.
But infections can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure and even death, according to the World Health Organization. Older people with underlying health conditions are most at risk.
The CDC believes symptoms may appear anywhere from two to 14 days after being exposed.
Human coronaviruses are usually spread through...
- The air by coughing or sneezing
- Close personal contact, such as touching or shaking hands
- Touching an object or surface with the virus on it, then touching your mouth, nose or eyes before washing your hands.
Help stop the spread of coronavirus
- Stay home when you are sick.
- Eat and sleep separately from your family members
- Use different utensils and dishes
- Cover your cough or sneeze with your arm, not your hand.
- If you use a tissue, throw it in the trash
Lower your risk
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
- If you are 60 or over and have an underlying health condition such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes or respiratory illnesses like asthma or COPD, the World Health Organization advises you to try to avoid crowds or places where you might interact with people who are sick.
