Map Shows 'Rapid Spread’ of COVID Cases as School Classes Canceled

A Texas school district has canceled classes due to a rapid spread of COVID-19, signaling how the virus continues to disrupt education six years into the pandemic. San Perlita Independent School District in South Texas announced a temporary closure of all campuses this week, citing a growing number of COVID cases. The district aimed to protect the health and safety of the school community and prevent further spread.

This comes just days after another school in Louisiana also had to temporarily shut down due to a COVID outbreak, affecting both students and staff. These school disruptions align with a broader increase in COVID activity across the United States. As of August 19, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) latest epidemic trend estimates show that COVID infections are growing or likely growing in 47 states, while no states are experiencing a decrease.

Texas is among the states with rising infection rates. Nationally, the CDC estimates COVID cases are growing, with infections increasing across much of the South and West, described by the agency as low overall but trending upward. Wastewater surveillance data in Texas supports this trend, with rising levels of SARS-CoV-2, the virus causing COVID-19, in samples from several regions, including Central Texas.

Experts note that while COVID has settled into seasonal waves, increasing case counts do not necessarily indicate a return to large-scale disruptions seen during the pandemic's peak. The school closures in Texas and Louisiana exemplify how outbreaks continue to impact classrooms, even as COVID is increasingly viewed as an endemic respiratory virus.

Current COVID-19 symptoms can overlap with those of influenza and other respiratory illnesses, but loss of taste or smell is more common with COVID, while flu symptoms often appear more suddenly. Testing is recommended, especially for those at higher risk of severe disease. Tests are readily available across the United States through pharmacies, retailers, and healthcare providers.

As students return to classrooms and the start of the new academic year approaches, health officials will be closely monitoring the situation to determine if the latest increase in COVID activity leads to further school disruptions and statewide outbreaks in the coming weeks.