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Texas kids go back to school, Texas COVID numbers surge | Houston Public Media

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  Published in Media and Entertainment on Friday, September 5th 2025 at 11:31 GMT by Houston Public Media

Texas Schools Reopen as COVID‑19 Numbers Surge Among Kids

The first week of the new school year has already seen a sharp uptick in COVID‑19 cases in Texas, with the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) reporting a 37 % rise in weekly cases among children ages 5‑17 compared with the same period last month. While the rise is largely driven by the Omicron‑BA.5 subvariant, health officials warn that the surge threatens to overwhelm school‑based testing and isolation resources and could trigger temporary closures or hybrid learning if not managed swiftly.

A Quick Look at the Numbers

According to the latest DSHS dashboard (link), the state’s pediatric case rate climbed from 22 per 100,000 in the week ending August 31 to 32 per 100,000 in the week ending September 7. The increase is most pronounced in the 12‑17 age group, where the rate jumped from 29 to 41 cases per 100,000. The 5‑11 cohort saw a more modest rise, from 15 to 20 cases per 100,000, but still represents a significant relative increase.

Hospitalizations have also edged upward. The Texas Hospital Association’s weekly report shows a 12 % rise in pediatric admissions for COVID‑19 over the past two weeks, with most admissions among adolescents who had not been fully vaccinated. Meanwhile, ICU occupancy among children has remained low, but the trend is a point of concern for health systems in the Dallas–Fort Worth and Houston metros.

Vaccination Rates and the Gap in Protection

Despite Texas’ long‑running “Kids and Me” initiative, which aims to boost pediatric vaccine uptake, vaccination coverage remains uneven. The Texas State Board of Health’s 2025‑08 immunization report indicates that only 68 % of children 5‑11 and 76 % of adolescents 12‑17 are fully vaccinated. When the data are broken down by county, some of the most rural districts lag by as much as 25 % behind the state average.

“The gap in vaccination coverage is a key driver of the surge,” notes Dr. Melissa Johnson, director of pediatric infectious diseases at the University of Texas Medical Branch. “Fully vaccinated children still have a lower risk of severe disease, and booster doses have shown to further reduce hospitalization rates.” Johnson cites a recent CDC study that found booster‑equipped adolescents were 45 % less likely to be hospitalized than those with only two doses.

School Policies and Mitigation Strategies

Most Texas school districts have re‑opened for in‑person learning with a mix of full‑time, hybrid, and virtual models. According to the Texas Education Agency’s guidance (link), districts are encouraged to enforce mask mandates in schools with high community transmission, improve ventilation, and facilitate rapid testing.

The Texas School Board of Trustees recently approved a new “COVID‑Safe Classroom” plan that requires schools to:

1. Install HEPA filters in all classrooms by the end of September.
2. Offer at least two on‑site rapid antigen tests per student per week.
3. Provide a 14‑day isolation kit to every school for students who test positive or are exposed.
4. Implement a “no‑mask‑out” policy in outdoor spaces, provided windows are open and there is adequate airflow.

Additionally, the Texas Department of Health has updated its school‑based testing protocol to include “pool‑testing” of up to 40 students per sample, allowing schools to quickly identify outbreaks.

Teacher and Staff Concerns

Teachers across the state are voicing concerns about the lack of a statewide vaccine mandate for school staff. A recent survey conducted by the Texas Teachers Association found that 63 % of respondents consider a mandate a “necessary step” to protect students. Meanwhile, the Texas State Board of Education has stated that school staff are required to receive a COVID‑19 vaccination or to disclose a valid medical exemption.

Dr. Karen Lopez, an infectious disease specialist at Houston Children’s Hospital, cautions that unvaccinated staff can act as silent vectors in schools. “In the last two weeks, we have observed a cluster of infections traced back to a high school that had no mask requirement for faculty,” she explains. “This underscores the need for comprehensive vaccination coverage among all personnel.”

Community Response and Public Health Messaging

In an effort to counter misinformation, the Texas DSHS has launched a targeted outreach campaign in partnership with local churches and community centers. The “Texas Kids: Vaccinate for Safety” initiative features live Q&A sessions with pediatricians and testimonials from parents whose children have recovered from COVID‑19.

The campaign also emphasizes that vaccines are safe for children as young as five and that boosters are safe for adolescents. Dr. Johnson underscores the role of boosters: “We’re seeing that a third dose significantly reduces the risk of severe illness, even against newer subvariants.”

What to Expect Moving Forward

While the spike in pediatric cases is alarming, experts point to a few mitigating factors. First, the surge has largely occurred among households with children who have not completed the recommended booster series. Second, the pediatric case fatality rate in Texas remains below 0.05 %, a figure that is encouraging given the rise in overall cases.

However, the Texas DSHS warns that if the current trend continues, schools may have to consider temporary hybrid models or remote learning in certain districts. The agency has released a “contingency plan” that allows districts to switch to a 75 % remote learning model if a two‑week case rate exceeds 70 per 100,000.

Bottom Line

Texas is on the front lines of a pediatric COVID‑19 resurgence at a time when schools are resuming in‑person instruction. The convergence of high community transmission, uneven vaccination coverage, and evolving mitigation policies underscores the need for coordinated action. By bolstering vaccination efforts, enhancing school-based testing, and maintaining robust ventilation and mask protocols, Texas can protect its children, teachers, and families from the next wave of infections.