COVID cases rise here after long holiday

The latest reports released by the Texas Department of State Health Services show an increase in COVID cases among local school districts as students return after holiday breaks.

A total of 10 districts in Bowie and Cass Counties reported new cases in the most recent reporting period of Jan. 4 to Jan. 10 — a week after only three districts reported cases of strictly staff members.

In Bowie County, Texarkana Independent School District led all districts with 12 new student cases and 12 new staff cases. The increase in student cases brings its total on-campus student positivity rate to about 3.1%, which is about average compared to other districts.

Liberty-Eylau added seven new cases among staff members, bringing its total of staff cases since reporting began to 58. Its student positivity rate still sits right below 3%.

Other Bowie districts to add new cases include Hooks ISD, three staff cases; Pleasant Grove ISD, one staff case; Red Lick ISD, one staff case; Redwater ISD, one staff case.

Red Lick’s student case total was listed as 33 in the latest reports, which would be an increase from the last report, despite not reporting any new cases. Texas DSHS officials have said this could be due to late reporting.

If that number holds true, Red Lick’s high student positivity rate would increase to approximately 8.4%, which leads all districts by more than three percentage points.

Simms ISD remains the district with the lowest total student positivity rate. It is the only district in either county with student cases

below 1%.

As far as Cass County districts, Atlanta ISD reported the most new cases, with six staff members and three students testing positive. This brings its respective totals to 58 student cases and 40 staff cases, since reporting began. Its on-campus student positivity rate sits at about 3.5%.

Queen City reported a total of four new cases, with two being students and two being staff members. It leads Cass County districts in total student positivity rate, at just under 5%.

Other Cass districts to add new cases include Bloomburg and Hughes Springs, both with two staff cases.

Bloomburg holds the lowest student positivity rate in Cass, at 2.8%.

All new cases were reported with a source of infection as either off-campus or unknown.