The Texas fight over mask mandates is confusing. We’re here to help.
Coronavirus in Texas
As the coronavirus spread across the state, The Texas Tribune covered the most important health, economic, academic and breaking developments that affected Texans. Our map tracker showed the number of cases, deaths, tests and vaccinations in Texas from 2020-22.
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Coronavirus in Texas
Amid a sharp rise in COVID-19 deaths this summer, more Texans under 60 are dying
Health officials say that the state’s high rate of unvaccinated people contributed to a summer surge in hospitalizations, which preceded the spike in deaths.
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Coronavirus in Texas
Texas’ ban on school mask mandates draws federal investigation for possibly violating the rights of students with disabilities
The U.S. Department of Education announced the inquiry days after the Texas Education Agency quietly updated its guidance to say school districts can’t require masks.
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Coronavirus in Texas
Watch Peter Hotez and Leana Wen discuss the coronavirus pandemic at The Texas Tribune Festival
Hotez is co-director of the Center for Vaccine Development at Texas Children’s Hospital. Wen is a professor of health policy and management at George Washington University.
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Coronavirus in Texas
Delta variant, lax mask policies delay Plano family’s return to school
Parents remain divided over whether to require masks in the classroom. For Carmen Campbell, there’s just too much uncertainty right now to feel comfortable sending her son back. Listen in the weekend edition of The Brief podcast.
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Coronavirus in Texas
After Texas A&M student died from COVID-19, students and faculty rally for more safety precautions
University leaders have encouraged mask-wearing and getting vaccinated, but they say Gov. Greg Abbott has prevented them from requiring either.
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Coronavirus in Texas
Texas doctors, seeing unprecedented numbers of pregnant patients with COVID-19, urge pregnant people to get vaccinated
Pregnant women are getting vaccinated at lower rates than the general population. “This variant is much more aggressive, [and] pregnant women are getting sicker much faster,” one doctor says.
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Coronavirus in Texas
A Texas school district doesn’t require masks. The state is suing the district anyway.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has sued nine more school districts over their masking rules. One says it doesn’t mandate them. Another says it doesn’t enforce mask-wearing at Paxton’s request.
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Coronavirus in Texas
Nearly 2 million people in Texas are overdue for a second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine
More than 11% of those who received their first dose haven’t gotten a second shot, and more than 1 million people are more than 90 days overdue.
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Coronavirus in Texas
Analysis: Texas and the U.S., lawyered up and ready to go to court
It’s usually the state suing the feds, but now the federal government is suing Texas for outlawing abortions after six weeks of pregnancy. There are more lawsuits between the state and federal governments to come.