Five more seniors have died in Dallas County Friday after contracting COVID-19, according to Dallas County officials who also announced another 124 confirmed cases of the virus.
The latest victims included a woman in her 60s from Dallas, a man in his 70s from Farmers Branch, an man in his 70s from Dallas, a woman in her 60s from Dallas and a man in his 80s from Dallas. All five of the victims had been hospitalized and the last two were residents of long-term care facilities.
The deaths bring the countywide total to 55; the addition of 124 cases brings that total to 2,190.
County health officials did not yet reveal details on where the latest cases were found -- those details are expected to be made available Friday afternoon.
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Starting Saturday, people in Dallas County will be required to wear a cloth covering over their mouth and nose while conducting essential businesses, working in essential businesses or while on public transit.
"To better protect you and our front line heroes, we are requiring all visitors to essential businesses, essential business employees and riders of public transportation to wear a cloth covering starting Saturday," Jenkins said in a prepared statement Thursday.
Jenkins' amended Shelter in Place order said violations, which now includes the face coverings as of midnight Saturday, with fines up to $1,000 and/or jail time for those found to be in violation of the order. In a meeting Friday morning, the Dallas County Commissioners Court voted to further amend the order to remove the provision about penalties.
Still, Jenkins said Thursday afternoon he didn't expect to need enforcement of the amendment, hoping citizens would simply comply for the good of others and front line responders.
*Map locations are approximate, central locations for the city and are not meant to indicate where actual infected people live.
