Garland ISD reported highest number of COVID-19 cases in North Texas last week

Less than a month into the new school year, North Texas school districts are reporting thousands of new COVID-19 cases among students and staff as some are having to shutter campuses in response to the uptick.

Some area districts have among the state’s highest number of total cases, according to an analysis of Texas’ most recent data released Friday.

North Texas school systems’ COVID-19 cases reported through Aug. 29 and found that Garland ISD reported the most — 1,306 — among students since the start of the school year Aug. 2, which was earlier than most.

Garland ISD reported the fourth highest number of total student cases statewide, according to Texas Department of State Health Services data. The Garland district started school earlier than most nearby districts and most cases are linked to in-home exposures, district spokeswoman Caren Rodriguez said.

Garland trustees approved a mask mandate that went into effect Sept. 1, providing exemptions for medical, religious and philosophical reasons. During an Aug. 24 board meeting, Director of Health Services Renee Kotsopoulos told the community that it appeared the number of new cases was stabilizing and the district was not seeing a sharp increase.

GISD has implemented a system that adjusts health and safety protocols based on the percentage of a campus student body with a positive COVID case. When positivity rates breach 3.4%, for example, campuses begin limiting the capacity for indoor and outdoor events. Access to campuses and district facilities is then restricted to only essential visitors.

Frisco reported the most new student cases — 573 — in North Texas for the week ending Aug. 29.

More Texas students tested positive for coronavirus in the last week than did during the previous peak of the 2020-21 school year.

Schools statewide reported that nearly 52,000 students had tested positive this school year, according to data released Friday. The state reported about 148,000 positive COVID-19 student cases for all of the last school year. Nearly 5.4 million students attend public schools in Texas.