Second Coronavirus Death in Texas Reported in Arlington

FORT WORTH, TX — Tarrant County Public Health confirmed this evening that a "senior adult" died on Sunday, March 15 had tested positive for COVID-19, the illness caused by the new coronavirus. The person was a resident of the Texas Masonic Retirement Center in Arlington.

Officials released information about the person’s residence, they said, because the facility provides housing to retired persons and senior citizens who are most vulnerable to the effects of severe illnesses.

Tarrant County said their health teams will work closely with the Retirement Center administration to assess the other residents and staff.

"Tarrant County is investigating for the possible source of the infection and determining who the patient may have come into contact with while he was ill, so that any close contacts can be appropriately isolated, monitored for symptoms and tested as needed," TCPH stated in a release.

“On behalf of Tarrant County Public Health, I want to express our deepest sympathy to the family of this person,” said Tarrant County Public Health Director Vinny Taneja.

Taneja declined to provide further details about the patient, citing HIPAA laws regarding confidentiality of health information.

The Fort Worth Star-Telegram identified the deceased as a 77-year-old man named Pat James.

Previously today, we reported that on Monday, a man in his late 90s in Matagorda County died while displaying symptoms consistent with coronavirus illness.