Coronavirus cases in Texas schools remain low, but trend points upward

BUDA — New weekly state data on the spread of the coronavirus in Texas school districts show 2,425 new confirmed COVID-19 cases among students, a continuation of an upward trend in infections since campuses returned to in-person learning.

The number of students confirmed positive for the coronavirus steadily has risen each week since schools reopened their doors, with cases jumping 57% since late September.

And while the number of teachers and staffers who have contracted the virus dipped for the first time — 1,417 cases were reported this week, a drop of 70 from the week before — the overall trend has gone up. Weekly cases have increased 73% since last month.

Known school cases have remained relatively low. About 0.1% of the state’s in-person students and nearly 0.2% of teachers and staff have been confirmed to have contracted the virus. In total, an estimated 12,765 Texas students and 8,248 staff members on campuses have been confirmed positive since the school year began.

In early September, the state began requiring schools to report confirmed campus cases on a weekly basis. The data does not include cases among students and staff who are learning and teaching remotely.

Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath said Thursday that the caseloads remaining below 1% points to "the conclusion that COVID-related risks associated with on-campus attendance are extremely low."

“I credit our superintendents, extraordinary teachers, and school administrators for making this a reality," Morath said. "We have learned a lot about this virus in the past seven months. Our school leaders’ commitment to creating a safe and comfortable environment that is supported by protocols that work has made it possible for our students to return to the classroom to receive the education they deserve.”

But Ovidia Molina, president of the Texas State Teachers Association, said “it’s very concerning to see the cases,” adding that some schools have not been diligent in enforcing social distancing and the wearing of masks.

“Any kind of positive COVID case is going to create some kind of trauma, especially if there is an educator who gets sick and can’t come back,” she said.

Off-campus infections

Coronavirus cases and hospitalizations are on an upward trajectory across the state but so far, cases related to schools still are tied to extracurricular activities and social events outside of school, not from classroom instruction, said Mark Escott, the interim medical director and health authority for Austin Public Health.

“As the cases grow in the community, there will be some growth in risk in schools,” Escott said. “However, I’ve been very impressed with the measures our school districts have put in place to keep things safe in the school setting. Ultimately, the success depends on whether or not students, faculty and staff are masking and distancing and following the hand hygiene.”

While Texas has largely avoided school outbreaks seen in some parts of the country, some districts have had to temporarily shutter campuses. This week, the Houston district called for the temporary closure of 16 campuses due to confirmed or presumptive coronavirus cases. The Texas Education Agency does not require districts to close school buildings for positive cases, and most have not. While Austin-area districts have had their own confirmed cases, none have shut down entirely because of them.

Just days after Austin district bus driver Juan Garcia started driving students to school earlier this month, he tested positive for the coronavirus during a required hospital visit before he could be approved for spinal cervical surgery. Garcia, who is asymptomatic, said he diligently wore his mask, washed his hands, followed protocols, didn’t venture out except for groceries and only had contact with his immediate family outside of his job. His surgery was postponed, and Garcia, 67, remains quarantined. He now questions whether he will return.

“If during winter this thing spikes up and we have a recurrence, I’m not going to expose myself to that,” said Garcia. “There’s no sense exposing myself more than I already am.”

State efforts

In an effort to curb the spread of the coronavirus in schools, state leaders last week announced the launch of a COVID-19 rapid testing pilot program. Such antigen tests can provide results within 15 minutes and perform best if a person is tested in the early stages of infection when the viral load is highest, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The state is starting with eight districts, including the small Central Texas districts of Granger and Lampasas, before offering the program to districts across the state.

Teachers also are putting their own protocols in place to tamp down the risks of virus spread in their classrooms. Hays High School teacher Maria Brown built a makeshift barrier of plastic shower liners around her desk, where she eats her lunch. She has up to 18 teens in her classroom and sanitizes the desks between each period.

“Before we started school, I was very apprehensive about it, the fear of not knowing and whether I’m going to be able to interact with my (students),” said Brown, who has taught for 16 years and whose own children are learning from home. “But when I came back, I was really impressed by how hard they’ve worked trying to keep the kids apart. I feel better now. All we can do is try to protect ourselves the best we can.”

Some courses — such as culinary arts, auto mechanics and cosmetology — require more hands-on training, but instructors said they’re still able to maintain some distance by rearranging tables and spreading out equipment. Fewer students also are in those classrooms as others opt for virtual learning.

Leandra Walls, the culinary arts teacher at Hays High School, said she’s not a fan of the virtual learning model. “I rather have our students be here,” she said, noting her virtual students were learning how to make chocolate mousse through a PowerPoint and might not have the equipment or ingredients at home to make the recipe.

“I’m not standing next to a student for a great length of time usually; it’s just a matter of a couple of minutes and then I can step away,” Walls said. “We’re very lucky in this course in particular, because sanitation is an important part of our coursework. We’ve been here almost a month, and I don’t think we’ve had any cases of COVID on our campus. It seems like the students and staff are doing a good job of maintaining distance.”

Central Texas school coronavirus cases

District | Staff cases | Student cases | Cumulative since school started

Austin | 9 | 2 | 43

Bastrop | 0 | 2 | 27

Dripping Springs | 0 | 10 | 18

Eanes | 4 | 9 | 43

Georgetown | 1 | 1 | 63

Hays | 3 | 3 | 17

Hutto | 0 | 3 | 12

Lake Travis | 2 | 2 | 14

Leander | 1 | 0 | 50

Manor | 0 | 0 | 2

Pflugerville | 5 | 3 | 32

Round Rock | 2 | 16 | 70

District-reported weekly cases as of 10/21/20