1/ Coronavirus testing in Texas has plummeted, just as schools prepare to reopen. bit.ly/2XOIGmh
2/ At the same time, the percentage of tests yielding positive results has climbed, up to 20% on average last week.
More than half of Saturday's roughly 14,000 reported viral tests indicated an infection. bit.ly/2XOIGmh
More than half of Saturday's roughly 14,000 reported viral tests indicated an infection. bit.ly/2XOIGmh
3/ Health experts say these developments suggest inadequacies in the state's public health surveillance effort at a time when school reopenings are certain to increase viral spread. bit.ly/2XOIGmh
4/ A recent CDC report found that Hispanic children with the coronavirus were about eight times as likely as white children to be hospitalized, while Black children were five times as likely. bit.ly/2XOIGmh
5/ In Texas, about 53% of public school students are Hispanic, and about 13% are Black. bit.ly/2XOIGmh
6/ Why testing is down is not clear.
It could be people were discouraged by long waits.
Or some could be less concerned after a frightening peak in July began to flatten out. bit.ly/2XOIGmh
It could be people were discouraged by long waits.
Or some could be less concerned after a frightening peak in July began to flatten out. bit.ly/2XOIGmh
7/7 Either way: A declining number of tests is troubling for schools.
"No public school has the resources to do testing under the current circumstances. There are huge class sizes and crowded hallways," said Vivian Ho, a health economist. bit.ly/2XOIGmh
"No public school has the resources to do testing under the current circumstances. There are huge class sizes and crowded hallways," said Vivian Ho, a health economist. bit.ly/2XOIGmh
