And just when we thought the era of
COVID whiplash for schools was over,
we've got brand new guidance from the Texas
Education Agency to tell you about tonight.
Within the last two hours that OEA
says that schools won't have to inform
parents of positive cases this year.
They also won't have to contact trace.
And if a school does contact trace,
parents can still choose to send their
kid to school if they have been in close
contact with someone who tested positive.
Of course, all of this comes as the
Delta variant continues to drive new
outbreaks among the unvaccinated
and breaking in just the last hour,
Dallas County has topped 1000
cases in a single day.
That is the first time we have
seen that since February.
Let's take a look at this graph here.
There are now close to 2000 people
hospitalized in North Texas with COVID-19.
That is right at the same level.
Actually just above the
level where we were for.
Our peak last summer and we're not
seeing any signs of hospitalizations
turning around at this point,
but even with all of the data
clearly saying that we are in the
midst of another wave right now,
COVID safety measures are
being relaxed in our schools,
so let's get to Kevin Reese live
right now with some additional
things to know from that new TE,
a guidance,
Kevin.
You talked about that TA guidance
things that students and
maybe teachers will not like,
but something they might like.
At least we think though,
think so that if a teacher is
required to teach quarantined
students in virtual learning,
that same teacher,
according to the TA,
can't be required to teach in person
classes at the very same time a
different teacher or a substitute
would have to be hired to do that.
The teacher can't do both of those as formas.
We know that students and staff
can't be required to wear them,
but some districts like DSD.
They're doing everything they
can to make the return to school
as safe as they possibly can.
I highly recommend getting this vaccine.
It really will save our lives.
That testimonial from
Dallas pediatrician Kay Jerrod alongside
her vaccinated daughters Kate and Beth,
part of a new push by the State
Department of Health Services.
Yes, in wet starting a promotional campaign
this weekend in Spanish and in English,
along with a Saturday and Sunday
event at this Walmart at 200
Short Blvd in Southern Dallas.
Free food and family games,
noon to four to encourage people to get the
COVID vaccine we really need
to try to keep our community.
And keep keep our family and
friends save. It's a personal
choice. Discuss it as a family
and but it most definitely.
You know each shot in
every arm that we can get.
It will help us get closer to
that herd immunity so we can
get through. This pandemic does also
announcing that it will offer rapid
COVID testing at every campus every
day this year results in 15 minutes
for both staff and for students under
18 whose parents have given written
permission and is absolutely at no charge.
So it's a leather layering strategy.
To keep the environment as safe as
possible, you know during the pandemic
DSD is not offering virtual learning this
year other than on one hybrid campus
and cannot require students wear masks,
but is recommending them and providing them
for the students and staff who want to.
So as students begin their
return to classrooms,
educators and medical experts doing as
much COVID educating as they can now. And
you're doing this to protect yourself
and your family and. Your friends.
And if you would like to
find that permission slip,
if you are indeed ISD, you can
find a link to that permission
slip in my story at wfaa.com, I'm
Kevin Reese in Dallas.
Alright, good info there, Kevin.
Thank you for that long before
the Delta variant surged,
Denton ISD had already planned to
offer limited virtual learning,
but more students are signed up
than the district has slots for.
Back in April, about 220 students
enrolled in the virtual program,
now with cases.
Rising once again,
though more families are trying
to get in on that and register
more than 100 students are
currently on the wait list and
that is expected to grow.