Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID‑19)

The purpose of this page is only to offer a general overview of the existing public health situation that is causing facility closures, event cancelations, and service level adjustments. The information on this page was current as of July 1, 2020. 

On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) stated that the COVID-19 outbreak can be characterized as a pandemic. There is substantial community spread* of COVID-19 in Tarrant County. The public is urged to stay at home if possible, to avoid gatherings with people who are not in the same household, and to limit in-person contact — except for in the pursuit of essential or re-opened services. To receive official COVID-19 information, sign up for the latest CDC updates.

* The CDC defines "substantial community spread" as large-scale community transmission; healthcare staffing significantly impacted; multiple cases within communal settings.

Wear a Mask to Help Protect Others

THE PUBLIC IS ENCOURAGED TO MONITOR THE FOLLOWING SOURCES FOR THE MOST CURRENT PUBLIC HEALTH INFORMATION:

COVID-19 Hotlines

COVID-19 Testing

To check symptoms or make an appointment, visit covidtesting.tarrantcounty.com. To find a Texas testing location outside of Tarrant County, visit covidtest.tdem.texas.gov.

Cloth Maks Guidelines

Closures, Cancellations, and Service Level Adjustments

  • CITY HALL: CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE
    Staff will return phone calls and emails during regular business hours (Weekdays, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.).  If you are unsure of whom you might need to speak with, please email City Hall or leave a message at 817-985-2105. View the notice that will be posted on all doors to City Hall and Mayor Brian Johnson’s most recent Declaration of Public Health Emergency at cityofkennedale.com/closure. 
  • LIBRARY: CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE
    During this closure, staff will be returning phone calls and emails during the temporary business hours of Monday through Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
    Summer Reading Club will be offered virtually, with events posted to the Library’s Facebook page.
  • SENIOR CENTER: CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE
    Through a partnership with Sixty & Better, shelf-stable and/or frozen meals are being delivered to members who wish to receive them. If you or someone you know needs nutritional assistance, email City Hall or leave a message at 817-985-2105.
  • PLAYGROUNDS: CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE
    The parks themselves – including trails, fishing dock, pavilions, and the disc golf course – will remain open, but play structures, swings, and sport courts will be marked as not for use at this time. Normally, the Splash Pad at Sonora Park would open for the summer in May. However, it will remain closed until further notice.

EVENTS

Visit cityofkennedale.com/cal to view the latest cancellations or postponements.

PUBLIC MEETINGS

City Council meetings and any necessary meetings of the various Boards and Commissions are being held via TeleConference and/or VideoConference until further notice. The most recent meeting (if any) will be available on each Board’s webpage. View all recent meetings on the City’s YouTube channel.

ELECTIONS

Tarrant County Elections Administrator Heider Garcia was recently interviewed by NBC DFW regarding new safety guidelines for voting in person. Due to public health concerns , the May 2, 2020 General Election for the purpose of electing the offices of Mayor and City Council Places 2 and 4 for the City of Kennedale was postponed until the earlier of November 3, 2020, or a date that may be specified as an alternative in a future order issued by Governor Greg Abbott.

KPD Response to COVID-19

  • All employees will wear masks, goggles, and protective gloves, including in the lobby of the Police department
  • Dispatch offering the option to complete reports over the phone for non-violent crimes that do not require an officer on-scene
  • Temperature monitoring, frequent hand washing, and social distancing 
  • Disinfecting vehicles daily with wipes and weekly with mist 
  • Protocols for reduced staffing or symptom development while on shift

Simple Recycling Curbside Service Has Resumed

Effective Wednesday, May 6, 2020, Simple Recycling curbside collection has resumed. View all facility closures, event cancellations, and service level adjustments relating to COVID-19 at www.cityofkennedale.com/covid19.

No Facility Reservations

Reservations are not being accepted or honored for any City facility. If you have questions, please leave a message at 817-985-2136 and Library staff will respond. 

Stay Informed and Engaged

The City of Kennedale will continue to evaluate service levels. Monitor the City’s online presence for current information in this rapidly changing environment:

There is substantial community spread* of COVID-19 in Tarrant County. The public is urged to stay at home if possible, to avoid gatherings with people who are not in the same household, and to limit in-person contact — except for in the pursuit of essential or re-opened services. To receive official COVID-19 information, sign up for the latest CDC updates.

* The CDC defines "substantial community spread" as large-scale community transmission; healthcare staffing significantly impacted; multiple cases within communal settings.

  1. 1

Mask Requirements in Tarrant County

Citing a 52% increase in the cumulative number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Tarrant County during the past two weeks, Judge Glen Whitley enacted an order REQUIRING cloth face coverings in most public situations. The order is effective beginning 6:00 p.m. today, Friday, June 26, through Monday, August 3 (unless modified by the Judge).

Indoors, the mandate applies to both employees and to visitors. Outdoors, it applies to gatherings of more than 100 people. Judge Whitley encourages wearing a mask anytime you leave your place of residence, however. As a reminder, the CDC does NOT recommend face coverings for children under 2 years old.

Any commercial entity in the county that provides goods or services directly to the public must develop and display “in a conspicuous location” a Health and Safety Policy that requires – at a minimum – that all employees and visitors wear face coverings. Businesses may choose to add other measures such as temperature checks or health screenings. The third page of the County Order includes an example of such a policy.

Generally, you will not be required to wear a mask while eating or drinking, when receiving a service where the wearing of a face covering would impair the performance of the service (i.e. receiving a facial), or if wearing a mask  would pose a “significant mental or physical health risk” to the individual .

This Order is in response to rates of infection increasing exponentially, despite current efforts. During the last two weeks, Tarrant County has also seen a 67% increase in hospitalizations and a 14% increase in deaths. As of Wednesday, June 24, Tarrant County Public Health (TCPH) had recorded 9,846 positive cases of COVID-19. Of those, an estimated 4,682 have recovered and 215 have died. Kennedale residents account for 23 of those positive cases, 10 of the recoveries, and 1 of the deaths.

During a recent meeting of the Tarrant County Commissioners Court, Public Health Director Vinny Taneja shared the image below regarding Coronavirus risk level by type of activity. If a planned activity is nonessential or for leisure, consider your health and the health of those you are in regular contact with. If you must go out, you are urged to wear a mask, maintain 6 (six) feet of social distance, not touch your face, and wash your hands frequently and thoroughly.

COVID Risk by Activity

Governor Abbott Pauses Reopening Due to COVID Surge 

On June 26, Governor Greg Abbott issued an Executive Order limiting certain businesses and services as part of ongoing efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19. This decision comes as the number of people testing positive for COVID-19 and the number of hospitalizations have increased and the positivity rate in Texas increased above 10%, which the Governor previously stated would lead to further preventative action. The targeted, measured directives in the Executive Order are based on links between certain types of businesses and services and the recent rise in positive cases throughout the state. View more details about current restrictions at Open.Texas.gov.

All reopened businesses are subject to recommended minimum protocols outlined by the DSHS, which are subject to change based on new and evolving information.

COVID-19 BY THE NUMBERS

As of Wednesday, July 1, 2020, there were more than 2.6 million confirmed cases and more than 127,000 deaths nationwide. Texas had more than 168,000 cases and more than 2,400 deaths; Tarrant County had 12,950 cases and 231 deaths; and Kennedale had 27 confirmed cases and 1 death. There is substantial community spread in Tarrant County*.

Also as of Wednesday, July 1, 2020, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases worldwide totaled more than 10.5 million; and more than 512,000 deaths had been reported, surpassing the 2003-2004 SARS outbreak.

 * The CDC defines "substantial community spread" as large-scale community transmission; healthcare staffing significantly impacted; multiple cases within communal settings.

RECOMMENDATIONS AND TESTING INFO

Texans, when able, should continue to minimize social gatherings and in-person contact with those who are not in the same household. Older adults and people of any age with serious chronic medical conditions should stay at home as much as possible and cancel or postpone nonessential travel. Individuals are encouraged to avoid contact with those 65 and older. Those who do leave home should implement social distancing, utilize cloth face coverings, and practice good hygiene.

Tarrant County now has COVID-19 testing sites in Fort Worth and Arlington. Appointments are available Monday through Friday. To do a self-screening and make an appointment go to covidtesting.tarrantcounty.com. 

Guidance for quarantine and data is posted on the CDC website. For non-urgent questions about COVID-19 call the information line at 817-248-6299 (available 24/7). For more information go to coronavirus.tarrantcounty.com.

* The CDC defines "substantial community spread" as large-scale community transmission; healthcare staffing significantly impacted; multiple cases within communal settings.

Pursuant to a Declaration signed by Mayor Brian Johnson, the City of Kennedale will recognize the more restrictive of the rules adopted by the State of Texas and by Tarrant County. However, staff cannot interpret any directives imposed at these levels of government. Each business or individual must consult the State and County documents to determine how your business or personal activities might be impacted.

Food Pantry

Assistance Programs and Resources

Food Resources

FUMC’s Mission Store and Community Food Pantry (229 W 4th Street) continues offering produce, canned goods, and staple foods on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of each month from  4:00 to 5:00 p.m. This month’s dates are Tuesday, June 9th and 23rd.

Extended services at this time include distribution of produce and dairy boxes every Tuesday from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. at Ignite First Baptist (309 N Kenny Street) and a food box drive-thru on the last Saturday of the month (June 27) from 8:30 to 11:00 a.m. also at Ignite First Baptist. View Other Local Food Resources.

Rental Assistance Program For Tarrant County Residents

If you have a COVID-related loss of income that keeps you from paying your rent and you live in greater Tarrant County (outside of Fort Worth), rental assistance may be available. Get information and applications at renthelp.tarrantcounty.com.

Tarrant County Small Business Assistance Grants

Tarrant small businesses can now apply for this grant program through  6:00 p.m.,  Monday, July 6, 2020.

Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) Assistance Program

The CARE 4 Tarrant Program is considering reimbursements of expenses to local non-profits who are assisting those affected by COVID-19, with priority on those organizations delivering direct relief assistance in the following areas:

  • Medical, Food, or Utility Assistance and/or Food Distribution
  • Caregiver, Counseling, Educational, or Case Management Services

CARES Act

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act provides for Economic Impact Payments to American households of up to $1,200 per adult for individuals whose income was less than $99,000 ( or $198,000 for joint filers) and $500 per child under 17 years old – or up to $3,400 for a family of four.

FFCRA

The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) requires certain employers to provide their employees with paid sick leave and expanded family and medical leave for specified reasons related to COVID-19 from April 1 through December 31, 2020. 

Assistance for Small Businesses and Employers

Fraud and Scam Protection

As the number of people with Coronavirus grows, so does the number of scammers trying to take advantage of our collective fear and anxiety to steal our money. Please be wary of anyone requesting your identifying information through emails or phone calls. Be careful about online sales pitches and requests for information purporting to protect your health and well-being. If you have a question about a call or message you have received, call non-emergency dispatch at 817-478-5416 to speak with an officer. KPD is committed to helping you verify the validity of any communication and preventing you from falling victim to fraud.

Administration Actions and Federal Agency Resources

USA.gov is cataloging all U.S. government activities related to coronavirus. Federal agencies’ coronavirus websites with important information and guidance: 

  • Centers of Medicare and Medicaid (CMS)
  • Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
  • Department of Education (DoED)
  • Department of Agriculture (USDA)
  • Small Business Administration (SBA)
  • Department of Labor (DOL)
  • Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
  • Department of State (DOS) (View All Travel Advisories)
  • Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
  • Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
  • Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
  • Department of the Treasury (USDT) (Assistance for Small Businesses)
  • Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI)
  • U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC)