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UPDATE: Follow along here for our live blog on Friday, March 27.

9 p.m. Harmony Public Schools has teamed up with Houston Community College with the goal of 3-D printing around 30,000 face shields a day, reports Shelby Webb.

8 p.m. Memorial Hermann Health System announced Thursday it would change its visitor policy to no longer allow visitors in order to slow the spread of COVID-19.

Effective Friday, Memorial Hermann will no longer allow visitors to enter any of its facilities until further notice, according to a statement made by the heath system's officials.

"This decision will further protect our patients and the community from the spread of COVID-19 and help conserve Memorial Hermann’s supply of personal protective equipment (PPE) to ensure our ability to continue providing safe care during this time," the statement reads.

The following limited exceptions to the no visitor policy will be made and these visitors will be required to clear a health screening before entering the facility.

Exceptions may vary by location and include:

• One visitor for laboring women

• One visitor (parent or guardian) for pediatric patients

• Family members for patients in hospice or supportive medicine

• One visitor for patients receiving emergency care

• One visitor for patients at the time of discharge following a surgery or procedure.

• Patients with a disability or other medical condition who need assistance communicating with staff will be evaluated for potential visitor exceptions on a case-by-case basis.

"Memorial Hermann recognizes the importance of family support in the healing process and is encouraging the use of video chat programs on your personal device to visit with loved ones who cannot visit in person," reads the statement.

7:45 p.m. A teenager at Harris County’s juvenile detention center has tested positive for COVID-19 and is being treated on site, officials said Thursday.

The child is under the age of 16 and has been detained at the facility since late 2019, said Kendall Mayfield, a spokesperson for the downtown center.

All children housed on the fifth floor with the teen — she indicated there are 12 to 15 — have been quarantined, she said. A courts official said the patient is believed to be male.

7:30 p.m. Houston First Corp. will furlough more than half its 200-plus employees, after seeing the COVID-19 pandemic turn its projected $1 million budget surplus into an expected deficit of more than $30 million, reports Dylan McGuinness.

In addition, the downtown city-owned and operated Hilton Americas hotel has furloughed 550 of its 620 employees, general manager Jacques D’Rovencourt told board members during a virtual meeting Thursday afternoon.

6:54 p.m. There were more than 300 reported cases of the novel coronavirus in Texas Thursday, the largest single-day increase in cases the Lone Star State has seen, according to a Houston Chronicle analysis.

There are now more than 1,600 reported cases in the state.

Deaths in Dallas County and Houston, the city's first, brought the virus' death toll to 21.

The Houston region now has 413 cases, with Fort Bend reporting 32 new cases and Harris County reporting 18.

The number of reported cases of the disease has more than doubled since Monday morning, going from 723 cases to 1,604 as of Thursday evening.

The virus has also spread throughout the state, with 96 counties now reporting at least one case.

Counties have reported that 39 people have recovered from the disease. But not every county reports recoveries.

-Reporter Jordan Rubio

6:36 p.m. ABC13 Anchor Chauncey Glover announced he has coronavirus on Thursday night. He released the following statement on Twitter:

“For days I anchored the news telling viewers about Coronavirus, also known as Covid19. I talked about new cases and gave viewers detailed info on how to stay safe. Last week I had to take my own advice after waking up in the middle of the night disoriented, in a horrible sweat. I had a tightening in my chest, was hot with a temp of 101 and had horrible body aches. I called my doctor. I did a virtual visit with a specialist. That doctor referred me to get tested for COvid19. I self quarantined as I awaited my results. A week later, I got the call saying I tested positive for the Coronavirus. I’m now home recovering. THankfully, I’m feeling better, and through the worst part. I’m so blessed. God was with me. He always is! Please take this seriously friends. Stay home, take care of yourselves and if you’re showing symptoms -- CALL YOUR DOCTOR IMMEDIATELY.

Love ya’ll.”

5:59 p.m. Rep. Lizzie Fletcher was tested for COVID-19 Thursday and is self-quarantining until she receives the result, her office says. Fletcher "sought professional medical treatment out of an abundance of caution" after experiencing flu-like symptoms and a temperature above 101 degrees.

News: @RepFletcher was tested for #COVID19 today and is self-quarantining until she receives the result, her office says. Fletcher "sought professional medical treatment out of an abundance of caution" after experiencing flu-like symptoms and a temperature above 101 degrees #TX07 — Jasper Scherer (@jaspscherer) March 26, 2020

5:57 p.m. The CEO of Texas Roadhouse is donating his salary until January of next year to pay front-line employees during the coronavirus outbreak, according to reports.

5:55 p.m. The Chronicle's Sarah Smith put together an explainer on Texas' eviction policy amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

5:19 p.m. As of Thursday evening, the U.S. now has more confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus than any country in the world, surpassing Italy and China, according to numbers from the Johns Hopkins University of Medicine tracker.

There were 82,404 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the U.S. by the end of the day Thursday.

5:17 p.m. The Brazoria County Health Department reported six new coronavirus cases Thursday, bringing the countywide case total to 39.The county health district also reported three individuals have fully recovered from the virus and released from home isolation. In total, four positive coronavirus patients in the county have recovered.

The new positive cases in Brazoria County are:

-A Pearland man between the ages of 35-45. He is in stable condition and recovering in home isolation. The case is not travel related.

-A Rosharon woman between the ages of 70-80. She is currently hospitalized.

-A Clute girl between the ages of 5-10, under active investigation.

-An Angleton woman between the ages of 25-35, under active investigation.

-A Pearland man between the ages of 65-75, under active investigation.

-An Alvin man between the ages of 35-45, under active investigation.

5:09 p.m. The city of Houston on Thursday reported the first death related to the new coronavirus: a woman between 60 and 70 who had several underlying health conditions, according to a news release from the Houston Health Department.

The woman died Tuesday at a local hospital. An autopsy showed posthumously the woman had contracted the virus.

The health department launched an investigation Thursday to identify people who may have come in contact with the victim.

-Reporters Nicole Hensley and Jasper Scherer

4:58 p.m. Health officials on Thursday confirmed 32 new cases in Fort Bend County, bringing the county's total to 84. Officials report eight of those patients have recovered.

4:52 p.m. One Harris County Sheriff’s Office deputy received a positive COVID-19 test result on Thursday, bringing the agency’s total number of confirmed cases among staff to six.

The most recent case is a male deputy in his late 20s, who last reported for duty on Saturday, March 21. He is now quarantined at home. This deputy works in the Operations side of the Harris County Jail’s 1200 Baker Street building, where he has limited contact with inmates.

Previously reported cases include:

-A female deputy in her late 20s, who is now quarantined at home.

-A male deputy in his early 30s, who is now quarantined at home.

-A male civilian clerk employee in his late 20s, who is being treated at a local hospital.

-A male deputy in his late 60s, who is quarantined at home.A female deputy in her late 20s, who is quarantined at home.

-Reporter St. John Barned-Smith

4:44 p.m. Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo on Thursday announced a recovery fund for Houston-area residents facing financial hardship because of the government’s efforts to slow the progression of the novel coronavirus.

Restrictions on businesses and public gatherings across the region, including a shelter-at-home in Harris County, have left many county residents furloughed or unemployed. More than 150,000 Texans applied for unemployment benefits last week, 10 times the number during the same period last year.

-Reporter Zach Despart

4:26 p.m. The Galveston County Health District announced 13 new positive coronavirus cases, bringing the countywide case total to 40.

“This marks the largest number of positive coronavirus cases we’ve reported for Galveston County in one day,” said Dr. Philip Keiser, the county’s local health authority, in a statement. “We are doing more tests in the county and discovering more cases.”



The new cases are:

· A woman in her 70s who had contact with a known positive Galveston County coronavirus case. She is self-quarantined.

· A man in his 40s with no recent travel or contact with a known positive coronavirus case. This is believed to be community spread. He is self-quarantined.

· A woman in her 60s who had contact with a known positive Galveston County coronavirus case. She is self-quarantined.

· A man in his 60s who had contact with a known positive Galveston County coronavirus case. He is self-quarantined.

· A woman in her 40s who had contact with a known positive Galveston County coronavirus case. She is self-quarantined.

· A woman age 10-20 who had contact with a known positive Galveston County coronavirus case. She is self-quarantined.

· A woman in her 40s with recent international travel. She is self-quarantined.

· A woman in her 70s with no recent travel or contact with a known positive coronavirus case. This is believed to be community spread. She is hospitalized.

· A woman in her 40s with recent domestic travel. She is self-quarantined.

· A woman in her 30s with recent international travel. She is self-quarantined.

· A man in his 50s with no recent travel or contact with a known positive coronavirus case. This is believed to be community spread. He is self-quarantined.

· A man in his 20s with no recent travel or contact with a known positive coronavirus case. This is believed to be community spread. He is self-quarantined.

· A woman in her 50s with no recent travel or contact with a known positive coronavirus case. This is believed to be community spread. She is self-quarantined.

-Reporter Nick Powell

4:20 p.m. Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo criticized a efforts by officials to allow compassionate releases of medically vulnerable nonviolent inmates from the Harris County Jail Thursday night on Twitter.

“We need to start with compassion & the safety & security of the people of Harris County & beyond,” Acevedo said in one tweet. “Violent & habitual offenders (especially burglars) need to remain in quarantine in jail. ⁦We also need notice & transparency on who is released.”

We need to start with compassion & the safety & security of the people of Harris County & beyond. Violent & habitual offenders (especially burglars) need to remain in quarantine in jail. ⁦We also need notice & transparency on who is released.



https://t.co/E226Lklcya — Chief Art Acevedo (@ArtAcevedo) March 26, 2020

Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo has been working for days to draft an executive order, but on Wednesday the effort was complicated by an opinion from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, indicating to local officials the state may try to intervene.

“They hope we will all forget,” Acevedo said in another tweet, sharing a link with the headline “Socialist Judges, Officials in Harris County Use Coronavirus Concerns to Justify Release of Felons.”

They hope we will all forget. We wont. Hoping ⁦@GregAbbott_TX⁩, ⁦@DanPatrick⁩, ⁦@KenPaxtonTX are taking note.



Socialist Judges, Officials in Harris County Use Coronavirus Concerns to Justify Release of Felons | The Texans https://t.co/NJYJxcvDru — Chief Art Acevedo (@ArtAcevedo) March 24, 2020

The chief continued in the tweet, “We wont. Hoping ⁦@GregAbbott_TX⁩, ⁦@DanPatrick⁩, ⁦@KenPaxtonTX are taking note.”

Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez has been vocal in his advocacy for compassionate release.

4:05 p.m. Ten more cases of the new coronavirus were confirmed by the Montgomery County Public Health District Thursday afternoon, as the county’s number rose to 41. The Spring area logged the most cases, followed by Montgomery.

3:51 p.m. Legendary Houston rapper Scarface, who had been battling an illness for weeks, was told he tested positive for coronavirus, reports Matt Young.

Scarface, whose real name is Brad Jordan, made the announcement in an interview on Willie D's YouTube channel on Thursday. Willie D and Scarface were members of the rap group Geto Boys.

3:39 p.m. A Galveston city firefighter has tested positive for the coronavirus, city officials announced Thursday, reports the Chronicle’s Nick Powell.

The new positive case has prompted the city to test 26 crew members of the Galveston Fire Department, with results expected on Friday. The employees who have been tested are at home awaiting test results, officials said.

A spokesperson for the city said the self-quarantine of the 26 crew members has not impacted the department’s operations and all of Galveston’s fire stations remain open.

The department has disinfected and cleaned the station where the firefighter worked, as well as all equipment, according to officials.

The timeframe the firefighter contracted the virus has not been made public.

3:36 p.m. Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo posted a live video via Periscope of himself cracking down on a local market he said was violating the county's stay-at-home order by allowing patrons to use gaming machines.

Keeping People Safe https://t.co/wg12MCG8r6 — Chief Art Acevedo (@ArtAcevedo) March 26, 2020

“People need to come in, get what they need and go home," Acevedo recorded himself saying in front of the store. “That’s what essential services is about."

The chief then walked into the market and said to a clerk, “What’s going on guys? Got your machines off, right? No, you can’t have ‘em on. You have them on when we come back, we're taking enforcement action."

The clerk nodded in agreement.

“I don't want to come back here," said Acevedo. "We will shut you down. You can go to jail, you got it? Essential services only."

3:28 p.m. Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo has been working for days with county stakeholders drafting an executive order that would allow broad-scale compassionate releases of medically vulnerable nonviolent inmates from the third largest jail in the country. But on Wednesday the effort was complicated by an opinion from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, indicating to local officials the state may try to intervene.

-Reporter Gabrielle Banks

3:15 p.m. Two new COVID-19 cases have been confirmed in Midland County, bringing the overall case count to six.

The fifth patient is a woman in her 20's who has been at Midland Memorial Hospital since March 20. She has recovered and is anticipated to be released from the hospital Thursday. The source of exposure is travel related, according to officials.

The sixth case is a man in his 30's. The source of his exposure to the virus is under investigation.

3:10 p.m. Anyone flying into Texas from New York, New Jersey, Connecticut or the city of New Orleans will be subject to a mandatory self-quarantine for 14 days or the duration of their stay, per a new executive order Gov. Greg Abbott announced Thursday meant to curb the spread of coronavirus.

The order is in line with new federal guidelines, Abbott said, and will be enforced by the Texas Department of Public Safety. Violators will subject to a $1,000 fine or 180 days in jail or both. It only applies to those traveling by air.

-Reporters Taylor Goldenstein and Jeremy Wallace

3:04 p.m.: A Southeast Texas band director, educator and Symphony of Southeast Texas member is the first person to die after contracting COVID-19 from the Golden Triangle area, reports Beaumont Enterprise's Isaac Windes.

Michael Westbrook has worked for Lumberton, Port Neches-Groves and Hardin-Jefferson school districts.

Alex Wells, who is the current band director at Port-Neches Groves High School said he has known Westbrook since he was in college.

“As a teacher it is our hope that we impact kids’ lives, and I know he has,” Wells said. “He has taught at Lumberton, Hardin-Jefferson and PN-G — he has impacted lives all over Southeast Texas.”

Read more about Westbrook and his impact on Southeast Texas' music scene here.

2:05 p.m.: An employee of Lone Star College tested positive for coronavirus March 26, writes the Chronicle's Melanie Feuk.

The employee developed symptoms March 22, four days after being one of a limited number of employees on the LSC-CyFair campus. There were no students on campus at the time, according to a news release.

Sanitation of every LSC System campus started on March 23 and is scheduled to be finished before April 6.

1:55 p.m.: President Donald Trump, in a letter to the nation's governors on Thursday, said the White House is preparing to roll out new guidelines for social distancing and other measures based on risk by geographic area, writes Chronicle reporter Taylor Goldenstein.

Trump wrote in the letter that federal officials would use testing data to designate counties as high, medium or low risk, which would then be used to suggest guidelines.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has resisted calls for a statewide shutdown, even as most of the state's largest cities move to do so on their own. At least 26 states have issued stay-at-home orders, according to the National Governors Association.

"Through it all, I am deeply inspired by the unflinching dedication of Americans in every state who are rallying together to defeat the virus," Trump wrote. "I look forward to witnessing that same boundless spirit drive our recovery and quickly return us to the path of exceptional health, safety and prosperity for all of our citizens."

Abbott is expect to give an update at 2 p.m. on the state's coronavirus response.

1:50 p.m.: A teenager at Harris County’s juvenile detention center tested positive on Wednesday for COVID-19, reports Gabrielle Banks.

Kendall Mayfield, spokesperson at the downtown facility said the child is under the age of 16 and has been detained at the facility since late 2019. All children housed on the fifth floor with the child have been quarantined, she said, indicating that there are between 12 and 15 people in the quarantine.

The child exhibited symptoms and tested for the novel coronavirus on Monday, she said. The facility has cleaned the premises and is screening all people entering and exiting the building for symptoms.

1:12 p.m. Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo has been working for days on drafting an executive order that would allow broad-scale compassionate releases of some inmates from the third-largest jail in the country, the Chronicle's Gabrielle Banks reports in an exclusive story.

“Healthcare professionals have urged us to reduce the amount of people in the jail downtown, where 8,500 inmates and thousands of employees come into close contact,” Hidalgo said. “We are working to increase social distancing between healthcare employees, detention officers and inmates. That may require moving inmates to other facilities or the early release of some non-violent offenders.”

The effort would only be to release medically vulnerable, nonviolent inmates who are at serious risk of contracting the diseases, but was complicated by an opinion from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who indicated to local officials the state may try to intervene, Banks reports.

Last week, Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said coronavirus could “spread like wildfire” among inmates at the 8,000-plus person lockup.

12:45 p.m.: Texas' statewide total has risen to nearly 1,500 cases, according Chronicle data reporter Stephanie Lamm. Harris County now has 185 cases.

Two deaths were reported Thursday, one in Dallas County. There has been 18 deaths statewide.

New cases were added to Bastrop (2), Brown (3), Calhoun (2), Castro (6), Dallas (303), Llano (2), Martin (1), Parker (2), Rockwall (2), Tarrant (96), Terry (3), Tom Green (2), Walker (3) and Wichita (8) counties.

The number of people tested increased from 13,235 to 21,424, or an increase of 8,189. The increase is driven by private lab testing. There were 7,267 new private lab tests compared to 922 new public tests.

12:30 p.m.: Harris County’s stay-at-home order mirrors those of other states and large Texas counties by allowing people to get groceries, run crucial errands and exercise outside, according to Chronicle reporter Jasper Scherer.

The differences stem from what each place considers an “essential” business: Harris County, for instance, stands out in exempting car dealerships and furniture stores from the order. And while other states have banned “elective,” or non-emergency medical procedures, Texas is one of the only states to apply that directive to abortions.

Read about how Harris County's order differs from other cities, counties here.

12:25 p.m.: More federal supplies, including medical protective gear and nasal swabs, were delivered Thursday to Harris County to restock its testing sites, reports The Chronicle's Nicole Hensley.

The delivery arrived around 8:30 a.m. at the Baytown testing site, about 48 hours after Harris County officials warned their supplies would reach a "critical low" and possibly need to shut down if they did not receive another shipment.

The supplies will be split between testing sites in Baytown and Katy, according to the story.

12:20 p.m.: Houston's two comic/fan conventions have been canceled for 2020, reports The Chronicle's Andrew Dansby.

Comicpalooza, a convention-center-filling convention that drew tens of thousands of fans, has canceled its 2020 event that was scheduled for Memorial Day weekend, May 21-23.

The Fandemic Tour, another con that has visited Houston over the past two years, has also canceled its three-day September event, moving it to 2021.

According to a statement, organizers for Comicpalooza "assessed numerous options, holding out hope the massive convention, drawing pop-culture fans from all over the region and the U.S., could still occur. When it became clear the original dates were not possible due to COVID-19, plans immediately turned to numerous alternative dates, other venues were also considered in addition to a modified show format."

12 p.m.: The rapidly increasing number of novel coronavirus cases has led to a severe shortage of essential medical supplies that Houston's healthcare workers need in order to protect themselves, reports The Chronicle's Rebecca Hennes.

In an effort to help restock supplies, Memorial City Mall will host a nearly week-long medical supply drive to assist West Houston Hospitals. Supplies such as disposable face masks, eye protection including face shields and safety goggles, disposable gowns, disposable gloves, non-latex, disposable surgical caps, disposable foot covers, bleach and antimicrobial wipes and hand sanitizer are needed.

Donations can be dropped off at the mall’s west entrance near American Girl and Ice Skate Memorial City from noon to 4 p.m. March 28, March 30, April 1, April 3 and April 4. Memorial City Mall is located at 303 Memorial City in Houston.

11:55 a.m.: The Kaiser Family Foundation has reported the average cost of coronavirus treatment could be more than $20,000, according to NBC News. There are nearly 30 million people in the U.S. living without insurance.

While Congress' coronavirus legislation has made virus testing free, it has not addressed the cost of medical treatment needed for the disease. Health care reform advocates argue that expanding Medicaid, or loosening enrollment rules, amid the outbreak would "encourage the working poor to receive necessary care, help reimburse medical centers and alleviate medical debt that patients would accumulate."

Texas is one of 14 states that did not expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act.

10:55 a.m.: A Laredo sector Border Patrol supervisor has tested positive for COVID-19, or the novel coronavirus, reports the Laredo Morning Times. The supervisor worked his normal shift before learning of the news and starting self-quarantine.

At least 15 other agents were sent home to self-quarantine as a result of the supervisor’s positive test, according to CNN.

Four more Laredoans tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday, and one more on Thursday, bringing the number of confirmed cases up to 14.

10:30 a.m.: Governor Greg Abbott on Thursday requested access to interest-free federal loans to help Texas pay unemployment claims, reports The Chronicle's Erin Douglas.

The funds, known as Title XII funds, allows states to receive advances from the federal government to continue to cover unemployment benefits without disruption.Texas has less than six months of reserves to pay unemployment insurance at recession-level rates, according to U.S. Department of Labor data from the second quarter of 2019, the most recent available.

That’s well below the federally recommended level of one year, and the seventh-lowest reserve level among states. The Governor’s office said in a press release that the Texas Workforce Commission has issued bonds in the past to pay off the loans and that the agency has never missed making a payment to an eligible claimant.

Read everything you need to know about Texas' unemployment benefits here.

10:20 a.m.: Group 1 Automotive, the nation’s fourth largest dealership group, plans to furlough 5,800 employees globally and lower executive compensation to mitigate the financial impact of the pandemic, reports The Chronicle's Paul Takahashi.

The Houston company said Wednesday evening it would furlough 3,000 operating and staff employees in the U.S. for 30 days, and may keep them furloughed for another 30 days. It is also furloughing 2,800 employees in the United Kingdom for 21 days. Group 1 also is reducing its executive compensation until further notice.

10:05 a.m.: A team of teachers at Harmony Public Schools' Innovation Lab in Southwest Houston have started to use 3D printers to manufacture face shields for local medical workers as shortages of vital medical supplies complicate efforts to help treat patients with COVID-19, reports The Chronicle's Shelby Webb.

Each shield takes about 5 hours and $1 in materials to make. Technology teacher Mehmet Gokcek believes his team can have roughly 40 shields printed by the end of the week. Gokcek is working with Harris County health officials to arrange a donation of the shields while they continue to be manufactured inside the school’s lab.

9:35 a.m. The country’s leaders should resist the temptation to place artificial deadlines on when sequestered residents and shuttered businesses may resume going about their normal lives, said Dr. Peter Hotez, an expert on vaccines at the Baylor College of Medicine.

The Chronicle's Eric Dexheimer reports that while President Donald Trump wants the country to restart its economy by Easter, a firm deadline should not be set.

“This is very tough for government officials," Hotez said. "I’m sorry to say we’re still in the early stages of this epidemic.”

9:05 a.m.: Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred acknowledged that a 162-game regular season “probably” won’t happen this year, but offered optimism that the sport could be “gearing back up” in May, reports The Chronicle's Astros beat writer Chandler Rome.

On March 16, the league canceled spring training and postponed the regular season indefinitely. It cited adherence to guidelines from the CDC that prohibited gatherings of 50 or more people for eight weeks. Under those guidelines, mid-May seems the earliest return for any activity.

8:50 a.m.: Thursday was supposed to be Opening Day for the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park and around the major leagues, but the sports world is on pause during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In an effort to shed hope for brighter baseball days to come, The Chronicle's sports editors and writers share their best Opening Day memories. Read more from John McClain, David Barron, Matt Young, Joseph Duarte, Brian T. Smith and Greg Rajan here.

8:38 a.m.: It is one full day into Harris County's stay-at-home order, and its implementation continues to unevenly affect local residents, reports the Chronicle's St. John Barned-Smith, Dug Begley and Samantha Ketterer.

"Essential businesses" are allowed to stay open, according to the order, which runs until April 3. Those include grocery stores, pharmacies, medical facilities, liquor stores, mail and shipping services, child and adult care centers, veterinary clinics and hardware stores.

Those who violate the order and are not considered essential could receive 180 days in jail or $1,000 fine, according to the story.

8:21 a.m. New York City remains the country's biggest coronavirus hot spot, according to the AP. New York State accounted for more than 30,000 cases and close to 300 deaths, most of them in the city.

New York had its first positive test on March 1.

As for the rest of the country, U.S. deaths from the pandemic have topped 1,000, the AP reports.

8:10 a.m. A record number of Americans applied for unemployment benefits last week because of an economic shutdown caused by COVID-19, the new coronavirus, according to the Associated Press. Nearly 3.3 million people applied, which is four times the 1982 record.

Filings for unemployment generally reflect the pace of layoffs, the story reports.

7:50 a.m. As of Wednesday evening, 1,303 people in Texas have tested positive for the virus, according to Houston Chronicle analysis. There have been 16 deaths total, including the latest, a woman in her 50s with an underlying chronic health condition in Bexar County.

New cases were added to Angelina (1), Bexar (84), Cameron (10), Collin (66), Guadalupe (8), Nacogdoches (1), Smith (21), Travis (119) and Webb (13). The Chronicle is tracking cases of coronavirus disease using data collected from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, state and local public health departments and its own reporting.

For up-to-date tracking of the spread of the novel coronavirus in Texas, visit houstonchronicle.com/coronavirus.