Texas tightens rules on Louisiana over virus

Texas is ratcheting up restrictions on neighboring Louisiana, one of growing hot spots for coronavirus in U.S., and preparing Dallas' downtown convention center to house infected patients as Gov. Greg Abbott on Sunday anunced a sweeping series of moves to both slow and man growing pandemic.

Just two days after Texas began requiring airline passengers from New Orleans to comply with a two-week quarantine, Abbott said state troopers will w also patrol highway entry points at Louisiana border and require "everyone stopped" in those cars to also self-isolate. Abbott's order requires drivers to fill out a form listing where y will quarantine in Texas.

But how aggressively Texas troopers will patrol incoming traffic wasn't immediately clear.  Hours after Abbott's anuncement, traffic both in and out of Texas was freely moving along Interstate 10 near Sabine River that divides Texas and Louisiana. state troopers were seen patrolling interstate, although multiple highway electronic signs in both directions warned drivers that "Personal travel from Louisiana must quarantine.'"

More than 3,500 Louisiana residents have been diagsed with disease caused by a new coronavirus, and more than 150 of m have died, according to state figures released Sunday.

For most people, coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older ults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia and death.

Abbott also said airline passengers arriving from Miami, Atlanta, Detroit, Chicago or anywhere from California or Washington state must also quarantine for 14 days, or risk jail time if y don't comply. And as virus spres throughout Texas jails, Abbott issued an order prohibiting bond for anyone arrested on charges related to physical violence or with past convictions for violent offenses.

Texas has more than 2,500 cases of COVID-19, disease caused by virus, and at least 34 related deaths.

Nearly 500 cases are in Dallas, according to a running count by Johns Hopkins University. Abbott said re is currently eugh beds in Dallas and across Texas to treat patients, but U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said city's convention center could be set up to house as many as 1,400 people if needed.