Dallas County reports 19 new cases, Plano officer tests positive

PLANO, TX – Good evening. Here is a look at the latest on the coronavirus and how it’s impacting Texans locally, across the U.S., and internationally.

The latest stories:

1. Dallas County officials announced 19 new cases of coronavirus Friday morning, bringing the county’s total to 74 cases. And the City of Carrollton announced that one of those new cases is a resident of that city.

2. A Plano police officer who has tested positive for the coronavirus is believed to have contracted it during travel to another state, city officials said.

3. Small business owners across Texas are now able to apply for up to $2 million in long term, low-interest Economic Injury Disaster Loans, Governor Greg Abbott announced today.

Other headlines:

By the numbers

There are:

336 confirmed Texas cases

5 fatalities in Texas

19,101 confirmed U.S. cases

11,299 fatalities worldwide

272,167 confirmed worldwide cases

87,403 worldwide recoveries

Your Questions

The Dallas Morning News has partnered with KXAS-TV (NBC5) to provide answers from top medical experts to readers’ questions. You can see a video of the full discussion here.

Is wearing masks effective if you are still healthy?

“No, I don’t think so. If you are showing symptoms and you are coughing, sneezing, expecting some sort of infection — then a mask is a good idea with regards to COVID-19. Wearing a mask can prevent those respiratory droplets from coming out very far. If you’re already sick, masks are a good prevention measure. If you’re not showing symptoms, I wouldn’t recommend it.” – Dr. John Carlo, CEO of Prism Health North Texas

What you need to know

Do you have general questions about the virus and its origin? Click here for additional answers to key questions about the virus.

Stories of resilience

As the impact of coronavirus spreads across North Texas, residents are remaining positive, showing ingenuity and creativity during this challenging time. Communities are coming together to help their neighbors, sharing resources, recipes and prayers.

We want to hear your stories of resilience. Have you or someone you know had a positive experience during the pandemic? Are you connecting with friends and family in new ways? Share your story.

Looking for more coverage? Read the latest on how the virus is affecting North Texas and beyond.