BEAUMONT, Texas — We are continuing to track the latest headlines and updates regarding the global coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
RELATED: Sunday Southeast Texas COVID19 Updates: Second coronavirus death in Louisiana, Walmart adjusts hours
Follow link above for Sunday updates.
Today's top headlines:
• Trucking regulations waived in Texas to help stores restock shelves after supply shortages due to coronavirus concerns
• Nederland Heritage Festival to remain open despite coronavirus concerns
• President Trump: Sunday is a 'National Day of Prayer' during coronavirus pandemic
• 12News to host #FactsNotFear town hall on coronavirus Monday
• 'Pandemonium' | Shoppers flood grocery stores to stockpile supplies amid growing coronavirus concerns
• South Texas State Fair canceled after Jefferson County judge signs disaster declaration amid coronavirus concern
Latest updates:
Here are the latest updates from around Southeast Texas and the world (all times are Central/Beaumont time):
SATURDAY UPDATES
March 14 - 7:45 p.m. — Walmart is reducing hours at all of its U.S. stores to allow more time to replenish shelves and clean and sanitize stores, the retailer announced Saturday in a letter on its website.
The national retailer said its stores will be open from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m .until further notice. The new hours take effect Sunday.
March 14 - 6:30 p.m. — President Donald Trump has tested negative for the coronavirus, according to a White House memo. The memo from the president's doctor to press secretary Stephanie Grisham says Trump's negative results were confirmed Saturday evening.
March 14 - 5:30 p.m. — San Antonio's second travel-related coronavirus case confirmed. The person recently traveled to Japan and had a history of underlying health issues that placed them at a higher risk for contracting the disease. This brings the number of travel-related COVID-19 cases in San Antonio to two outside of the federal quarantine at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland. Read More Here.
March 14 - 4:15 p.m. — The State of Louisiana reports first death related to COVID-19. The Orleans Parish resident was a 58-year-old individual with underlying health conditions. The patient was being treated at Touro Infirmary Hospital and Medical Center. Read More Here.
"It is with heavy hearts that we announce the first Louisiana death related to COVID-19 today,” said Gov. Edwards. “I have spoken with Mayor LaToya Cantrell, and we send our prayers and condolences to the family of the deceased. In addition, we now have 10 new presumptive positive cases bringing our total to 77. Now more than ever, we must remain vigilant against the spread of this illness by taking care of ourselves and each other, avoiding going into public areas if you are sick, practicing social distancing and washing your hands frequently with soap and water. This underscores the fact that those with underlying health issues are most at risk from the coronavirus. Those with compromised immune systems and are older should be taking extra precautions to avoid becoming affected with the coronavirus.”
March 14 - 1:14 p.m. — President Donald Trump has announced that the United States will broaden its European travel ban, adding Britain and Ireland to its list. And he says he's considering imposing restrictions on travel within the U.S. to areas hit hard by the coronavirus spread. Under the restrictions on European travel, American citizens, green card holders and others are still allowed to return home to the U.S., but will be funneled to 13 airports and be subjected to health screenings and quarantine orders. Trump is urging people not to travel unless they have to. Read More Here.
March 14 - 12:32 p.m. — The number of presumptive positive coronavirus tests in Louisiana has increased to 67, Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards announced in a news conference Saturday. The total was 51 as of earlier in the day.
March 14 - 12:15 p.m. — Customer needs. In a news release, H-E-B stated "to better serve customers and increase product availability, all H-E-B, Central Market and H-E-B Pharmacies will close tonight at 8 p.m." Then beginning Sunday, March 15, all stores will open at 8 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. until further notice. Read More Here.
March 14 - 12:00 p.m. — Trump says he took coronavirus test Friday night, had temperature taken Saturday, defends shaking hands with people. Anyone in contact with the President or Vice President will now have their temperature checked. Read More Here
March 14 - 11:30 a.m. — Spain’s government is set to announce Saturday that it is placing tight restrictions on movements and closing restaurants and other establishments in the nation of 46 million people as part of a two-week state of emergency to fight the sharp rise in coronavirus infections.
March 14 - 11:22 a.m. — The White House is expected to announce that the U.S. will broaden its European travel ban, adding the United Kingdom and Ireland to its list. Under the restrictions, American citizens, green card holders and others are still allowed to return home to the U.S., but will be funneled to 13 airports and be subjected to health screenings and quarantine orders. That word is according to two people familiar with the plan who spoke on condition of anonymity before the official announcement expected Saturday. Read More Here
March 14 - 9:45 a.m. — The Louisiana Department of Health reports that there are 51 cases of COVID-19 in the state as of Thursday morning. These numbers were released on Saturday. Louisiana Coronavirus Map. Read More Here.
March 14 - 9:00 a.m. — The CHRISTUS Southeast Texas Health System has postponed its 40th Annual CHRISTUS Gala featuring Lady Antebellum to the fall of 2020. CHRISTUS Southeast Texas Foundation president Ivy Pate said in a statement, "As a health care system, it is our responsibility to lead the charge in taking proactive measures to prevent the spread of the virus."
March 14 - 8:07 a.m. — Apple is closing all of its stores worldwide, except for those in Greater China, in response to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. The closures will last through March 27 so the stores can be deep cleaned and disinfected. Read more here.
March 14 - 7:40 a.m. — A Houston-based genetic engineering company called Greffex says it’s ready to start animal testing of its COVID19 vaccine candidate. Read more here.
March 14 - 7:30 a.m. — The Office of the Surgeon General has asked hospitals and health care systems to please consider stopping elective procedures during the coronavirus outbreak.
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FRIDAY UPDATES
March 13 - 7:22 p.m. — Bishop Curtis Guillory has issued a decree in the wake of coronavirus and the state of emergency declared by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott Friday. Bishop Guillory's decree allows some to be excused from Mass on "Sundays and other holy days of obligation." Read more on this story.
March 13 - 7 p.m. — Inmates at all 122 federal correctional facilities across the country are no longer being allowed visits for the next 30 days, in response to the new coronavirus. Officials tell The Associated Press that effective Friday, the Bureau of Prisons is suspending all visits. No federal inmates or Bureau of Prisons staff members had tested positive for COVID-19, as of Friday morning.
March 13 - 6:15 p.m. — H-E-B is modifying store hours in the Houston area. Stores will be open from 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. until "further notice" the grocery chain said in a tweet Friday afternoon.
March 13 - 6 p.m. — 12News will host a #FactsNotFear Town Hall on Monday from 6-7 p.m. Local leaders will join us for a conversation about the virus, the impacts to Southeast Texas and answer your questions. The live town hall will air live on KBMT ABC, KJAC NBC, 12NewsNow.com, the 12News Facebook page and 12News YouTube page.
March 13 - 5:51 p.m. — Houston Zoo closed until April 3. The zoo will be closed for three weeks to the public. The zoo said in a statement that the animals are doing well and that zoo staff will continue to work with animals throughout the closure.
March 13 - 5:40 p.m. — President Donald Trump is tweeting that four major cruise ship companies have agreed to suspend trip from the U.S. for 30 days, effective at midnight. Trump tweeted Friday that Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian and MSC Cruises all agreed to the suspensions.
March 13 - 5:30 p.m. — A second person who was at Mar-a-Lago with President Donald Trump last weekend has tested positive for coronavirus. That's according to a Republican official who spoke on condition of anonymity in order to discuss private health matters.The person attended a fundraiser at the president's Florida resort.Trump also spent time last weekend with a Brazilian official who tested positive just days later.
March 13 - 5:25 p.m. — Students in the East Chambers ISD will be attending class remotely for at least a week beginning on March 16, 2020 as the district transitioning to a remote education platform according to the district's website. More school impacts here.
March 13 - 4:40 p.m. — Visits with inmates currently held at the Jefferson County Correctional Facility have been suspended until further notice by Sheriff Zena Stephens according to a news release from the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office. Inmates will still have the ability to make phone calls the release said.
March 13 - 4 p.m. — UPDATE: Nederland Heritage Festival organizers have reversed their decision and now say that the Nederland mayor has received clarification from the county judge allowing the the festival stay open as scheduled.
At 3:17 p.m. the festival posted a copy of the Jefferson County disaster declaration on Facebook saying they were closing.
Thirty five minutes later they posted again at 3:52 p.m. saying they were staying open.
The post read as follows... "Oooookay everyone.. We are just as frustrated, confused and mind blown at this as you are BUT.. the mayor just spoke with Judge Branick and the order will not impact municipalities until Wednesday - meaning we can proceed."
March 13 - 3:45 p.m. — The South Texas State Fair has been canceled follow the signing of a disaster declaration by Jefferson County Judge Jeff Branick. The order stated that "events greater than 200 persons shall cease at all public facilities across Jefferson County."
March 13 - 3:25 p.m. — The remaining three days of the Nederland Heritage Festival have been canceled. County Judge Jeff Branick signed a disaster declaration vfor the county on Friday.
March 13 - 3:14 p.m. — The president of the University of Texas says his wife has tested positive for COVID-19. The school had abruptly canceled classes at the 50,000-student campus on Friday, hours before President Gary Fenves made the announcement. He says he's also being tested for the disease that's caused by the new coronavirus. He says his family was in self-isolation.
March 13 - 3 p.m. — President Donald Trump is announcing that he is declaring the coronavirus pandemic a national emergency. He is speaking to the American people from the Rose Garden as Washington struggles with providing Americans with relief and officials race to slow the spread of outbreak. Trump says the emergency will open up nearly $50 billion for state and local governments to respond to the outbreak. Negotiations continue between the White House and Congress on an aid package, but there was no announcement of a breakthrough, as House Democrats prepare to vote on their own measure Friday. Read more here.
March 13 - 2:25 p.m. — Port Arthur Mayor Thurman Bartie is holding a meeting with city, school district, public health and other officials to talk about being prepared for dealing with coronavirus in Port Arthur.
March 13 - 1:44 p.m. — Speaker Nancy Pelosi says the House will approve its coronavirus aid package and is imploring the Trump administration and congressional Republicans to “put families first” by backing the effort.
March 13 - 1:30 p.m. — The Walt Disney Co. says its shutting down many of its live-action productions, including “The Little Mermaid,” due to the coronavirus. Hollywood on Friday continued to halt shoots of most films and television series to help control the spread of the virus. For Disney, that also includes “The Last Duel” with Matt Damon, Adam Driver and Ben Affleck; Marvel’s “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings”; a “Home Alone” remake; and Guillermo Del Toro’s “Nightmare Alley.” It’s also putting on a hold a pair of films in pre-production: “Peter Pan and Wendy” and a “Honey, I Shrunk the Kids” reboot.
March 13 - 12:20 p.m. — Gov. Greg Abbott on Friday declared coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, a statewide public health disaster as the virus continues to spread. This will authorize the use of all resources needed to respond to COVID-19. Texas currently has 39 confirmed cases of COVID-19. About 220 Texans have been tested for the virus, and 75 are currently being tested. Read more here.
March 13 - 11:30 a.m. — Jefferson County Judge Jeff Branick has confirmed that he plans to sign a disaster declaration for the county later this evening. He told 12News he was cutting a vacation short to come home to sign the document.
March 13 - 11:20 a.m. — Louisiana postpones Democratic primary over coronavirus, the first state to do so. The primaries will be moved from April 4 to June 20.
March 13 - 11:06 a.m. — World Health Organization chief says Europe now the epicenter of the world's coronavirus pandemic.
March 13 - 10:46 a.m. — NASCAR postpones next two races in Atlanta and Miami. IndyCar cancels next four races.
March 13 - 10 a.m. — HEB addresses product shortages in a Friday morning tweet. The grocery cahin says they are in a "strong position" to keep shelves replenished.
March 13 - 9:55 a.m. — San Antonio city and health officials announced Friday at a press conference the first confirmed case of coronavirus in San Antonio from outside of the JBSA-Lackland quarantine. Before this case, 11 cases of coronavirus had been reported from among the evacuees brought to federal quarantine at JBSA-Lackland. The person had previously traveled out of state, according to officials. Read more here.
March 13 - 9:42 a.m. — Canada's Parliament has voted to shut for at least five weeks to help ensure lawmakers do not contribute to the spread of for new coronavirus. The moves comes after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's wife tested positive. The prime minister himself is in self-imposed quarantine.
March 13 - 9:40 a.m. — Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez says the government will declare a two-week state of emergency in a bid to contain the new coronavirus outbreak. Sánchez said Friday that Spain will "mobilize all resources," including the military, to contain the sharp rise in cases. He added that it can't be ruled out that the country will see more than 10,000 cases next week. He said the state of emergency would be declared on Saturday.
March 13 - 9:25 a.m. — Organizers postpone the Boston Marathon until Sept. 14 because of rising concerns over the coronavirus pandemic.
March 13 - 9:20 a.m. — The Louisiana Department of Health reports that there are 33 cases of COVID-19 in the state. The virus is impacting eight parishes including Caddo, Lafourche, Jefferson, Orleans, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. Tammany and Terrebonne.
March 13 - 9:15 a.m. — Gov. Greg Abbott will hold a joint news conference on Texas' continue efforts to combat coronavirus at 12 p.m. at the Texas State Capitol
March 13 - 9:09 a.m. — Augusta National says next month's Masters golf tournament is postponed. The Masters is golf's first major tournament of the year. 8:58 a.m. — Stocks are opening sharply higher on Wall Street a day after the worst drop since 1987. The Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped 550 points, or 2.6% early Friday. That's about a quarter of what the index lost a day earlier. Read more here.
March 13 - 8:49 a.m. — Texas Sen. Ted Cruz announced he is extending his self-quarantine after he was informed Thursday he had a second interaction with a person who tested positive for COVID-19. The Texas senator originally came into contact with someone who had tested positive for the coronavirus days ago. His self-quarantine ended on March 12, but he is now extending it until March 17. "I still have no symptoms and feel fine, and I was looking forward to taking my family out to dinner tonight. Unfortunately, last night I was informed I had a second interaction with an individual who yesterday tested positive for COVID-19," the senator stated in a press release this morning. Read more here.
March 13 - 8:30 a.m. — The stock market has just opened, and the Dow is up 1,200 points shortly after the opening bell. Read more here.8:01 a.m. — Dallas County officials declared a local disaster Thursday night in response to the COVID-19 pandemic that has swept the world and has infected 13 people so far in North Texas. 5 new cases were reported in Dallas County overnight. Gatherings of 500 people or more are banned. Read the latest out of North Texas here.
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