The agency will use the same self-administered, oral tests used to conduct mass testing in Texas’ adult prison facilities.
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
Analysis: A rising commotion in Texas’ scattershot response to the pandemic
As Texas leaders struggle to find a balanced response to the pandemic and the lagging state economy, the suggestions for what they ought to do — friendly and hostile — are pouring in.
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Coronavirus in Texas
Texas bar owners file $10 million federal lawsuit against Gov. Greg Abbott, the second suit over the shutdown in two days
The bar owners say in the lawsuit that Abbott’s order violates their constitutional rights and “may very well leave long-term scarring on the Republican form of government if left unchecked.”
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Coronavirus in Texas
Texas Republican Party has contingency plan to move convention online if necessary, GOP chairman says
The party’s executive board will meet Thursday evening and could take action on a number of safety protocols including requiring masks, relocating the convention or making it virtual. It could also make no changes.
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Coronavirus in Texas
Doctors reverse course, say Texas GOP should cancel in-person convention
One day after The Texas Tribune reported that the Texas Medical Association was a sponsor for the indoor convention that is expected to draw 6,000 people, the doctors’ group announced it was calling on organizers to cancel.
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Coronavirus in Texas
Warning of “COVID slide,” Texas Education Agency reports 1 in 10 students have disengaged during the pandemic
A new statewide report from the TEA shows that more than 600,000 students didn’t complete assignments or respond to teacher outreach during the pandemic.
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Coronavirus in Texas
As coronavirus cases surged, Texas’ contact tracing workforce shrunk
State health officials say they have enough workers to meet current needs, but some local health departments are scrambling to keep up. With 2,800 workers, Texas is still short of the governor’s goal to have 4,000 people contact tracing.
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Coronavirus in Texas
Texas will delay work-search requirement for unemployment benefits
The Texas Workforce Commission had been planning to reinstate the requirement July 6 but is now holding off due to a rise in coronavirus cases.
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Coronavirus in Texas
Gov. Greg Abbott bans elective surgeries in four South Texas counties to preserve hospital capacity
Elective procedures are now banned in eight counties around the state — Bexar, Dallas, Harris, Travis, Cameron, Hidalgo, Nueces and Webb.
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Coronavirus in Texas
Officials in Texas’ big cities say their public testing sites are being strained. Austin has begun to limit who can be tested.
Austin won’t give tests to people who are asymptomatic. Dallas and Houston officials said their facilities reached capacity in the middle of the day.