COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths continue to increase, especially in McLennan County. Pediatric cases and hospitalizations have also increased in recent weeks. Rates of COVID-19-associated hospitalizations are lower in children of all ages compared to adults, but some children develop acute COVID-19 requiring hospitalization.1 In addition, some children who have had COVID-19 may later develop Multisystem Inflammato- ry Syndrome in Children (MIS-C), a rare but serious condition associated with COVID-19.

Because children can be affected by COVID-19 and severe complications can occur, schools are encouraged to implement CDC’s updated Guidance for COVID-19 Prevention in K – 12 Schools to keep children safe. CDC’s updated guidance recommends that schools implement layered prevention strate- gies, including universal masking by all students ages 2 years and older, staff, teachers, and visitors, regardless of vaccination status. It is also recommended that all eligible students, parents, teachers, and staff get vaccinated as soon as possible. Vaccination among eligible populations is critical to stopping the spread of COVID- 19, especially to children under the age of 12 who are not yet eligible for vaccination.

Schools can safely reopen by implementing safety precautions. During previous COVID-19-related school closures, many children lost access to important services, including school-based healthcare services, special services for students with disabilities, physi- cal education, and nutrition programs. School closures also contributed to increased anxiety and loneliness in many children and teens.2,3,4 Schools provide safe environments for learning and support healthy peer interaction important for social and emotion- al development. Children benefit from in-person learning, and safely returning to in-person instruction in the fall 2021 is a priori- ty.

3 August 7-13, 2021

VACCINATIONS

Vaccines administered People who received at least 1 dose People fully vaccinated 190,103 110,285 91,574

United States Texas McLennan County Percentage of Population 12+ Vaccinated with At 69.2% 64.4% 51.3% Least One Dose

Percentage of Population 12+ Fully Vaccinated 59% 53.9% 42.6%

Percentage of Population 65+ Vaccinated with At 90.6% 84.3% 79.6% Least One Dose

Percentage of Population 65+ Fully Vaccinated 80.6% 75.6% 69.9%

The following table shows the demographic breakdown of persons who are vaccinated with at least one dose in the US, State of Texas, McLen- nan County, and at the Health District hub US Texas McLennan County Health District Hub Race and Ethnicity White, Non-Hispanic 58.1% 35.2% 53.3% 64% Black, Non-Hispanic 9.7% 7.8% 9.5% 11% Hispanic, of any race 16.7% 32.4% 17.3% 19% Asian, Non-Hispanic 6% 6.1% 2.4% 1%

Age 12-15 years of age 3.6% 4.6% 2.9% 1% 16-64 years of age 70.5% 75.1% 70% 63% 65+ years of age 26% 20.3% 27.2% 34%

4 August 7-13, 2021

HEALTH DISTRICT VACCINATION CLINICS 1662 Total Doses Administered in 59 Community Based Clinics 38 additional Community Based Clinics planned through the end of August 939 Total Doses Administered at the Health District Clinic since 6/1/21

Locations of upcoming community-based vaccination clinics scheduled by the Health District

Living Witness Missionary Church HelloBello Holy Spirit Episcopal Church Briar Construction Family of Faith Worship Center Elm Mott Fire Dept. ESC Region 12 MCC Centex Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Just As I Am Ministries Greater Harvest Assembly Church

Locations of community-based vaccination clinics held by the Health District

Sul Ross First Baptist Church 2nd Missionary Baptist La Vega High School HOWMET Aerospace Waco Civic on 7th Estella Maxey Sanderson Farms M&M Mars Waco High Athletics AAFES China Spring ISD SpaceX McLennan County The Hangar McLennan County Indigent Care City of Waco Employee Clinic Channel Control Merchants St. Francis Waco ISD-University Cafeteria Coca Cola Waco Police Department Bash Salvation Army McLennan County Jail Mighty Wind Church Bubbas 33 Austin Park Methodist Children's Home Brazos Park East Valley Mills High School ICS Jail Supplies, Inc. Mart High School Waco ISD UHS Gym Waco ISD Family Fun Fest St. Paul Episcopal Church University High School Meyer Clinic Harmony Science Academy TSTC Delta Inn

5 August 7-13, 2021

REPORTED CASES

Week of July 31- Week of August 7-13, Percent Change from previous week August 6, 2021 2021 to this week New Cases 905 973 +8% Confirmed Cases 549 520 -5% Probable Cases 356 453 +27% Total Cases 29,967 30,940 +3% Total Active Cases 866 1080 +25% Total Recovered Cases 28,623 29,367 +3% 7-day average number of cases 129.29 139 +8% 7-day incidence rate per 100k 50.38 54.17 +8%

DEMOGRAPHICS AND TRENDS OF REPORTED CASES

Additional data can be found on covidwaco.com

6 August 7-13, 2021

COMPARISON BETWEEN OLD AND NEW

The following graphs compare COVID-19 cases from the beginning of the pandemic to those received since April 2021. (When all adults were eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccines). As shown in the graphs below, since April 2021 we have seen a steep increase in hospitalizations and fatalities among persons less than 60 years of age.

7 August 7-13, 2021

REPORTED HOSPITAL ADMISSIONS AND FATALITIES

Percentage of hospitalizations among unvaccinated Hospitalization Rate in TSA M 87% 21.3%

Week of July 31-August Week of August 7-13, Percent Change from pre- 6, 2021 2021 vious week to this week

7-day average number of hospital admissions 90.0 115.14 +28%

New Fatalities 9 12 +33%

Total Fatalities 479 491

TRENDS OF HOSPITAL ADMISSIONS AND FATALITIES

Additional data can be found on covidwaco.com

8 August 7-13, 2021

TESTING

Total Tests Reported 7-day average Test 7-day average % Positivity 218,644 379 18%

The number of COVID-19 tests that come back positive (percent positivity) continues to increase. The 7-day average of percent positivity from all tests for McLen- nan County is now 18%.

SARS-CoV-2 VARIANTS

Multiple variants of the virus that causes COVID-19 are circulating globally, including within the United States. To date, four variants have been classified as a variant of concern (VOC). Nationally, the proportion of cases attributed to B.1.617.2 (Delta) is predicted to increase to 97.4%; B.1.1.7 (Alpha) proportion is predicted to decrease to 0.9%; P.1 (Gamma) proportion is predicted to decrease to 0.5%; and B.1.351 (Beta) is predicted to decrease to below 0.1%.

As of August 10, 2021, 13% of the total cases reported in Texas are caused by the Alpha variant and 63% are caused by the Delta variant. McLennan County currently has reported 61 cases of the Alpha variant, 31 cases of the Delta variant, and one case of the Gamma variant.

END OF REPORT

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