Skyrocketing COVID-19 Cases Send Dallas Area Schools Scurrying

DALLAS, TX —The debate about masks may still be raging from one Texas school district to another, but there's no question now that schools are facing a rising tsunami of COVID-19 infections.

The state reported today that some 27,253 students in Texas public schools have tested positive for the virus within the last week. Add to that another 4,447 positive staff infections.

Overall totals from last week have now been revised up as well — from 14K to 18K and climbing.

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In North Texas, the district reporting the most cumulative cases is Garland ISD, which logged 1,457 staff and student infections, while Frisco ISD was not far behind, registering 1,133 new cases.

In Dallas, there were 1,549 total cases, with 1,027 students, 408 campus staff and 114 central staff members receiving positive tests.

Without unified directives to stem the surge, districts are taking the escalating situation into their own hands. For example, Richardson ISD will shutter its doors for the next ten days because of both absences and the rising tide of cases.

DeSoto ISD is also considering closing two schools, while Woodrige Elementary and Katherine Johnson Technology Magnet Academy have now assigned students to remote learning "due to an increase" in cases of COVID-19.

The most reliable information on COVID-19 and Texas schools is provided and updated by Texas Health and Human Services.

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