Harris County and Houston order schools to delay in-person learning until Sept. 8

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — Houston and Harris County health officials have ordered that all public and non-religious private schools remain closed to in-person instruction until at least Sept. 8.

Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo and Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner made the announcement with health officials during a joint briefing Friday morning.

The announcement comes one day after the CDC released new guidelines urging leaders nationwide to reopen schools. The CDC acknowledged parents’ concern with sending children back to school for in-person learning, but said keeping schools closed could also be harmful.

“The best available evidence indicates if children become infected, they are far less likely to suffer severe symptoms. Death rates among school-aged children are much lower than among adults. At the same time, the harms attributed to closed schools on the social, emotional, and behavioral health, economic well-being, and academic achievement of children, in both the short- and long-term, are well-known and significant,” the CDC wrote in its guidance.

In its argument, the CDC said keeping schools closed disproportionately affects low-income and minority children and those with disabilities because they may lack the access to private instruction or care. The CDC argued hard for reopening based on several points about closures’ effect on a child’s safety, nutrition and physical activity.

Locally, Hidalgo addressed the closures, saying she has heard from educators and parents over the last few weeks, leading to the order issued Friday.

She said the closures don’t mean that online instruction can’t begin in the meantime.

“The last thing we want are closures. But we can’t open until we dramatically reduce spread,” Hidalgo wrote in a tweet. “The harder we work to crush the curve the sooner kids can responsibly return.”

A copy of the order tweeted from the Harris County Public Health Twitter account noted that the start of in-person instruction and activity could be delayed further “based on ongoing monitoring and assessment of public health mitigation conditions.”

It states the decision to close was based on rationale that included increased COVID-19 transmission in the community as well as an increased number of hospitalizations.

Friday’s order includes the following:

• Virtual instruction is allowed consistent with individual district or school academic plans. Instructors may use classrooms for video streaming if they are alone in the classroom and building occupancy does not exceed 10%

• All school sponsored events and activities, including but not limited to clubs, sports, extra-curricular activities, fairs, exhibitions, academic and/or athletic competitions, must not take place in-person, on or off campus, until school systems resume on-campus instruction

• By no later than Friday, August 21, 2020, each School System shall develop and submit a written plan with safety and health protocols for resuming in-person instruction and extracurricular activities

On July 17, the Texas Education Agency released new guidance allowing school districts to delay in-person learning for at least four weeks without fear of losing funding.

Hidalgo is among the Texas leaders who have been vocal about issuing another stay-at-home order to prevent the spread of COVID-19, however only Gov. Greg Abbott has the final say on that.

Nearly a month ago, Hidalgo increased the COVID-19 threat level in the area to red, which means it’s severe, and you should stay home.

“The harsh truth is that our current infection rate is on pace to overwhelm our hospitals in the very near future,” Judge Hidalgo said on June 26. “We hope this serves as a wakeup call to everyone that the time to act is now.”

Despite the surge in coronavirus cases in Texas, Abbott has said no statewide shutdown is looming.

Texas has been under a mask mandate since July 3. The governor has stressed that if people wear masks, he’ll be able to avoid a shutdown.
Under the order, every Texan is required to wear a mask or facial covering when out in public, though there are exceptions.

Just last week, the mayor was embroiled in a battle to stop the state GOP from holding its in-person convention in Houston as the city becomes a COVID-19 hotspot.

The state GOP was initially allowed to move forward with their plans at the George R. Brown Convention Center, but a federal appeals court overruled the decision.