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 Monday, June 29, 2020. You can find more details by scrolling through the story.
Today's Headlines:
- Jefferson County Judge Branick extends mask order
- Texas reports 5K cases for sixth consecutive day
- Texas positivity rate jumps to 14.3%
Active cases: 1,584 Fatalities: 47 Recovered: 729 Positives: 2,360 Hospitalized in Jefferson County: 72
Latest updates:
Here are the latest updates from around Southeast Texas, Texas, Louisiana and some from the world (all times are local Central Daylight Time)
June 29, 4:58 p.m. — Port Arthur ISD says a student athlete in one its summer football training camps received a positive test result for the coronavirus. "All students and employees that came in contact with this individual have been sent home to self-isolate for a 14-day period," the district said in a statement. "They do not believe that anyone who had secondary contact (meaning came in contact with someone who had direct contact) is at risk at this time."
June 29, 4:17 p.m. — According to a report from Mayor Becky Ames, there are 36 new COVID-19 cases in the Beaumont Health Department's jurisdiction. This includes 34 new Beaumont cases, as well as one in Cheek and one in China. There were no deaths reported for Beaumont on Monday.
June 29, 4:00 p.m. — On Monday, Texas saw a new record high for hospitalizations. Nearly 6,000 people are in the hospital as of June 29. There are currently 5,913 people hospitalized due to COVID-19 in the state. This is the state's fourth day with more than 5,000 people in hospitals.
There was a slight dip in the total number of new cases, with less than 5,000 reported. This is the first time in 6 days the state has seen less than 5,000 new cases. It's also the lowest number of positive cases in a single day since June 22.
June 29, 1:40 p.m. — A 60-65 year old woman has become the sixth COVID-19 related death in Port Arthur according to the Port Arthur Health Department.
From Health Department:
It is with great sadness that the City of Port Arthur Health Department (PAHD) is reporting the sixth COVID-19 related death of a resident of Port Arthur. The individual was an African American female between the age ranges of 60-65. It is undetermined at this time whether this individual had underlying health conditions.
June 29, 1:30 p.m. — Due to the coronavirus pandemic The Texas Jazz Festival Board of Directors voted to cancel this year’s event until next year.
This is the first year the event will not be taking place. The event has been taking place every year since 1960. READ MORE HERE
June 29, 1 p.m. — West Orange-Cove CISD suspended all summer workouts until July 13 when officials will reassess the situation, the district said in a news release.
June 29, 12 p.m. — The Golden Croissant in Nederland is reopening after their staff tested negative for COVID-19. Their hours will be Tuesday through Friday 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., but they will be closed for July 4 on Saturday.
June 29, 11 a.m. — Orange County Water District #1 asked all of their office personnel to work from home after someone in their office was exposed to someone who tested positive for COVID-19, Orange County Commissioner of Precinct #4 Robert Viator said in a Facebook post. No one in the office has texted positive for coronavirus, he said. The water district sent out an automated phone message to notify residents that all office employees are on a quarantine or stay-at-home order and the office is closed.
June 29, 11:00 a.m. — Port Neches-Groves ISD assistant superintendent Julia Gauthier tells 12News that "a few" PNG students have tested positive for COVID-19. Gauthier says it is believed they contracted the virus at an extracurricular activity.
All students who were with the students who tested positive have been notified. The district says they found out about the positive tests on Sunday.
June 29, 10:45 a.m. — Jefferson Co. Judge Jeff Branick extends his mask order another week. It is now in effect until July 7.
June 29, 10:30 a.m. — New York City's Broadway theaters will remain dark for the rest of the year, due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
The Broadway League announced Monday morning that Broadway's shutdown has been extended through Jan. 3, 2021.
June 29, 9:30 a.m. — Archbishop Emeritus Joseph A. Fiorenza, three other retired priests and two workers at a retirement facility have tested positive for the coronavirus recently, The Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston confirmed Monday morning. The Archbishop Joseph A. Fiorenza Priest Retirement Residence is home to 18 retired priests, according to the archdiocese.
June 29, 9 a.m. — Five Under Golf Center said one of their employees tested positive for COVID-19 in a Facebook post. Management said the facility was closed at 2 p.m. Sunday, June 28 and the employee last worked Friday, June 26th. Five Under Golf Center also said an EPA approved decontamination process would begin at 10:30 am. Tuesday.
June 29, 8:03 a.m. — The maker of a drug shown to shorten recovery time for severely ill COVID-19 patients says it will charge $2,340 for a typical treatment course for people covered by government health programs in the United States and other developed countries.
June 29, 7:40 a.m. — For six days in a row, Texas reported more than 5,000 new cases of COVID-19. The positivity rate is now 14.3% in Texas and Houston is now a national hotspot.
June 29, 7:30 a.m. — There are several testing sites available in Southeast Texas today.
- Forest Park United Methodist Church, 225 S Major Drive, Beaumont
- 9 a.m - 4 p.m.
- Kirby Elementary, 1205 N 5th St, Silsbee
- 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. through Wed., July 1
- Register by visiting TxCovidTest.org or calling (512) 883-2400
- McCabe-Roberts Avenue UMC, 1205 Roberts Ave, Beaumont
- 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. through Thursday, July 2
- Call (409) 240-1494 for an appointment and more info
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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.
