BEAUMONT, Texas — We are continuing to track the latest headlines and updates regarding the global coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Today's top headlines:
- Abbott waives STAAR testing requirements
- Test results show group of Vidor church members not exposed to coronavirus, online-only services will continue
- Coronavirus concerns impact schools across Southeast Texas
- 12News to host #FactsNotFear town hall on coronavirus Monday
- Trucking regulations waived in Texas to help stores restock after supply shortages due to coronavirus concerns
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):
March 16 - 10:30 p.m.—A Matagorda County COVID-19 patient died Sunday, becoming the first coronavirus-related death in Texas.
March 16 - 6:30 p.m..—Jefferson County Judge Jeff Branick says a 24-hour curfew is in place for children under 18 without a parent or guardian.
March 16 - 6:15 p.m.—Hardin County Judge Wayne McDaniel issued a declaration of disaster for Hardin County
March 16 - 4:30 p.m.— A spokesperson with Lumberton ISD says ALL Hardin County school will be closed until April 3.
March 16 - 3:30 p.m.— City of Beaumont issues declaration of local disaster, closing the Civic Center, Julie Rogers Theatre, Jefferson Theatre, Lakeside Center, Sterling Pruitt Center and Municipal Court.
March 16 - 3 p.m.—Chambers County says it's closing all county-owned rental facilities and county libraries until April 28. The 344th district court is closing for two weeks.
March 16 - 2:40 p.m. — All Port Arthur ISD campuses and facilities will be closed until further notice beginning Tuesday, March 17, 2020, according to a news release from the district. Student coursework will be made available on district and campus websites according to the release.
READ MORE | School Impacts
March 16 - 2:30 p.m. — The Tyler County district attorney's office has charged a person for falsely reporting on social media that they had tested positive for the COVID19 at Tyler County Hospital over the weekend.
The person, who has not been identified, has been charged with making a "False Alarm/False Report" which is a class A misdemeanor.
March 16 - 2:20 p.m. — Effective midnight Monday, San Francisco will require residents stay at home except for "essential needs."
"Necessary government functions and essential stores" will remain open, according to city mayor London Breed.
March 16 - 1 p.m. — Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he will close his country's border to non-citizens amid pandemic.
March 16 - 11 a.m. — The ACT college entrance exam is postponing its April testing until June.
March 16 - 10:30 a.m. — The U.S. surgeon general says the number of coronavirus cases in the United States has reached the level that Italy recorded two weeks ago. It's a sign that infections are expected to rise in America as the government steps up testing and financial markets continue to fall.
March 16 - 10:20 a.m. — The NFL has announced that the 2020 draft will proceed as scheduled, but without a public audience. The event is scheduled to take place April 23-25 in Las Vegas. The selection process will be televised.
March 16 - 9:50 a.m. — The Supreme Court is postponing arguments for its March session (March 23-25 and March 30-April 1) because of the coronavirus.
March 16 - 9:50 a.m. — The Department of Health and Human Services experienced some form of cyberattack Sunday night related to its coronavirus response, administration sources confirmed to ABC News Monday. The attempt was to slow down operations, sources said.
March 16 - 9:20 a.m. — The Office of the First Lady has announced it will cancel its annual Easter Egg Roll. The event was slated for April 14.
March 16 - 9 a.m. — Texas Governor Greg Abbott has waived State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness, of STAAR, testing requirements for the 2019-2020 school year according to a news release from the governor's office.He is also requesting that the Department of Education waive federal testing requirements for the 2019-2020 school year.
March 16 - 7:05 a.m. — Several Southeast Texas school districts have announced more schedule adjustments in the last few days. Read about them all here: School Impacts.
Nederland ISD is closing all facilities immediately, and will resume school on Monday, March 23.
Port Neches-Groves ISD will extend Spring Break until March 23, 2020
Hardin-Jefferson ISD will hold classes Monday, March 16, but will excuse any absence related to COVID-19.
Little Cypress-Mauriceville CISD will start as scheduled on Monday morning, March 16, 2020 according to a post on the district’s Facebook page on Sunday afternoon. No penalties will be associated with attendance
Bob Hope Schools are closing all facilities and a normal schedule is set to resume on Monday, March 30.
Jasper ISD is "urging parents who are able to keep students home" telling parents that students won't be penalized for the absence.
March 16 - 6:45 a.m. — The leader of the IOC’s coordination commission for the Tokyo Olympics says there is no May deadline to cancel the games and he remains confident the event will go ahead despite sports coming to a virtual standstill globally amid the coronavirus outbreak.
March 16 - 6 a.m. — Lawmakers and organizations across the U.S. are taking steps to curtail large gatherings as much as possible to encourage and perhaps even force social distancing in an effort to curtail the spread of the new coronavirus.
Even the nation's top infectious disease official said Sunday he would like to see a 14-day national shutdown imposed, but it does not appear President Donald Trump would order that.
The CDC is recommending that gatherings of 50 people or more in U.S. be canceled or postponed over the next eight weeks because of the pandemic.
March 16 - 6 a.m. — Czech authorities are ordering a lockdown of 21 towns and villages in an area some 250 kilometers (150 miles) east of the capital to prevent the coronavirus from spreading.
The health authority in the nearby city of Olomouc barred residents from leaving those places and no one without residency can travel there.
The extraordinary measure initially for two weeks includes confining people to their homes except to shop for food and medicine and go to and from work.
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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.
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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.