Austin ISD Will Conduct COVID-19 Contact Tracing

Austin TX

09 August, 2021

10:02 AM

Description

AUSTIN, TX — Austin ISD will report positive cases and will conduct COVID-19 contact tracing despite the Texas Education Agency's stance that schools are not required to do so. The school district announced Friday it will inform parents of a positive case at its schools and will conduct contact tracing despite T.E.A's policy. Austin ISD will inform parents of a positive case. Austin ISD will conduct contact tracing. Families should keep sick children at home. pic.twitter.com/EXjehmLcPa— Austin ISD (@AustinISD) August 6, 2021 T.E.A's policy states schools do not have to inform parents of a positive case, conduct contact tracing and if a school does conduct contact tracing, parents can still choose to send a child to school if they are in close contact of an infected student. "Austin ISD will inform parents of a positive case. Austin ISD will conduct contact tracing. Families should keep sick children at home," the school district said in a tweet. The Austin school district isn't the only district to do this. Round Rock ISD announced it will also conduct similar guidelines such as informing parents about positive cases and conducting contact tracing. The decision comes after Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced he will not issue another mask mandate despite a spike in coronavirus cases, specifically delta variant cases, across the state. On Thursday, Austin-Travis County upgraded its COVID-19 risk-based guidance to Stage 5 as coronavirus cases continue to rise in the area. MORE ON THAT STORY: Stage 5 COVID-19 Risk: Austin, Travis County Upgrades Guidelines Stage 5 asks high-risk vaccinated people as well as partially vaccinated and unvaccinated people to avoid private indoor gatherings altogether with or without masks. On Friday, there were 467 new cases and two new deaths in Austin-Travis County. There are 92,361 total COVID-19 cases in the county with 903 total deaths. About 3,438 cases remain active. Of those active cases, 26 were new Friday. RELATED COVERAGE: Austin-Area Hospitals Issue Plea To Get Vaccinated Austin ISD To Offer Virtual Learning For Some Students In 2021-22 St. Edward's University Will Require Face Masks