Last week, another 106,821 Texans filed for unemployment. Already, the agency has processed more than four typical years’ worth of unemployment claims since mid-March.
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 colleges expect larger online summer classes as students lose jobs, internships
School officials, still reeling financially from shutting down their campuses mid-semester, are unclear what the summer surge signals for their fall enrollment.
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Coronavirus in Texas
Almost all Texas businesses are allowed to open at 50% capacity, Gov. Greg Abbott says
The governor announced his third phase Wednesday of reopening the state’s businesses during the coronavirus pandemic.
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Coronavirus in Texas
University of Texas at Austin to offer 2,100 classes online, limit classrooms to 40% capacity
About 20% of classes at the University of Texas at Austin will be taught remotely this fall. Students who choose not to return to campus can take all their courses online but will pay the same tuition rate as they would for in-person classes.
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Coronavirus in Texas
Texans could receive up to a year of unemployment benefits under second extension of aid
The state triggered an extended benefits period, adding an additional 13 weeks of unemployment starting in July. It is the second benefits extension this year.
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Coronavirus in Texas
The coronavirus pandemic has strained the mental health of front-line health workers
Doctors, nurses and other health workers are increasingly reaching out for mental health support as they risk exposing themselves or their families to the novel coronavirus.
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Coronavirus in Texas
As coronavirus hits Texas, the state’s top health official is spending 30 hours a week on a second job — that pays $600,000
Acting Executive Commissioner Phil Wilson chose not to accept salary and benefits for a temporary position leading one of Texas’ largest and most high-profile agencies. Instead, he continues to earn $636,694 from the Lower Colorado River Authority, more than double what the previous health commissioner made.
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Coronavirus in Texas
More than a third of Texans speak a language other than English. That means key coronavirus updates aren’t accessible to them.
Because of language barriers, Texas risks leaving some of the state’s marginalized communities even more vulnerable to contracting the virus while making it more difficult to access resources needed to get through the pandemic.
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Coronavirus in Texas
“I didn’t care if I was exposed to COVID”: Protesters’ anger outweighed their fear of getting sick
Political leaders have sought to balance support for demonstrators’ rights of free expression with warnings about the public health risks of large crowds.
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Coronavirus in Texas
Coronavirus in Texas: UT is putting its 400 biggest classes online
Live updates: The University of Texas at Austin is putting its biggest classes online next fall, officials there told The Daily Texan — the campus paper. The rest of its classes — about 11,000 — will be conducted in person.