Tarrant County, TX (WBAP/KLIF) – As COVID-19 hospitalizations have reached the highest levels in three months at nearly 7,000, Tarrant County Judge Glen Whitley says that he’s seeking approval from those in power, for the power to impose fines against violators. As it stands, Governor Abbott’s reopening orders does not allow for fines or jail for those who don’t where face coverings.
Whitley believes that imposing fines, would negate need for another economy crushing lockdown.
Meantime, Whitley also wants schools to stop athletic activities for now, as he believes that they are contributing to the uptick in COVID-19 cases in the county, especially among children. There are currently 11-COVID positive kids hospitalized at Cook Children’s, the most since the pandemic began, and 3 of them are in ICU.
Dr. Mary Whitworth, an infectious disease specialist tells WFAA-TV, “We’ve had some very ill children throughout the course of the pandemic in the ICU on ventilators”
Whitley is seeking permission from Gov. Greg Abbott to cease all youth sports activity in the county telling the Tarrant County Board of Commissioners that he believes it could cut down on the spread.
“I believe very strongly that those are some of the areas that are causing this significant increase in this spread. Those are the things I wish could cease right now. I don’t have the authority, the governor has not allowed us to have the authority to move into that area.”
Both options aimed at stopping the spread in the county would need the Governor’s approval.
Dallas County is also asking the governor for more leeway on local COVID restrictions, to including the closing of bars.
Nationwide there was over 155,000 new COVID infections reported on Thursday.
(Copyright 2020 WBAP/KLIF 24/7 News. This report contains material from the WFAA-TV)