Schools had previously been told that they would need to limit online-only instruction to the first three weeks of the school year, or they’d lose state funding.
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
Texas has the highest uninsured rate in the U.S. And during the pandemic, an estimated 659,000 Texans lost their health care.
The pandemic-driven economic downturn has left more than 5.4 million Americans with no job and no insurance. Texas has one of the largest shares of this increase.
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Coronavirus in Texas
This asylum seeker fled to Texas to escape violence, only to test positive for coronavirus while fighting deportation
Two sisters fled Guatemala six years apart. The older sister received asylum and settled in California. The younger one was denied and is now fighting COVID-19 in an El Paso detention center.
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Coronavirus in Texas
In reversal, federal government will allow international students to stay in the U.S. while taking only online classes
The repeal follows outspoken criticism from universities, legal experts and higher education advocates, who deemed the rules unfairly punitive for foreign students.
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Coronavirus in Texas
Texas hospitals are running out of drugs, beds, ventilators and even staff
Many Texas hospitals are no longer accepting transfer patients in order to maintain space for a surge that’s expected to come. In some parts of the state, it’s already here.
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Coronavirus in Texas
Thousands of Texas prisoners still have the coronavirus. More than 25% of inmates at four units are infected.
At one prison, more than 750 inmates were actively infected with the coronavirus Monday, according to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
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Coronavirus in Texas
Republican Party of Texas leaders opt for virtual convention after loss at state Supreme Court
An executive committee vote late Monday capped a weekslong whirlwind of controversy and legal battles over the party’s initial plans for an in-person event.
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Coronavirus in Texas
Texas runoff elections show stress of coronavirus pandemic on state’s voting systems
Disabled and older voters have encountered the most problems navigating mail-in balloting as they try to avoid going to polling places. In-person voting has been generally smooth so far in the low-turnout runoffs.
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Coronavirus in Texas
Analysis: Greg Abbott’s critics lose political clout as Texas COVID numbers climb
The governor is increasing restrictions as the coronavirus worsens in Texas, and is beset by trolls from inside his own party for doing so. But for the first time in this pandemic, he’s ignoring them.
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Coronavirus in Texas
Feeding tubes, hallucinations and numb toes: One Texan’s battle to survive COVID-19
When pharmacist Frank Arredondo was wheeled on a stretcher into a South Texas ward for coronavirus patients in early April, his wife wondered if they would ever see each other again.