The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released new guidelines for vaccinated people. They recommend students, teachers and school visitors wear masks inside schools, regardless of vaccine status. Also, everyone, including vaccinated individuals, are urged to wear masks in public indoor spaces in areas with substantial or high transmission.
According to the CDC website, Lubbock County is considered an area of high transmission.
These revisions come as the more contagious strain of the COVID-19 virus—the Delta variant—now accounts for over 80 percent of COVID cases across the country.
With the start of school fast approaching, Public Health Director, Katharine Wells, wanted to remind Lubbock parents that now is the time to get their children vaccinated against the coronavirus before the start of school.
“For the Pfizer vaccine, which is available to 12 and up,” said Wells, “It’s a two-dose series. So, they have to be starting that series now to be fully protected once school starts in August.”
Recently, Lubbock has seen an upswing in COVID-19 cases. Just last week, the city saw 104 new confirmed cases in a single day, the highest number seen since February. The county’s vaccination rate is currently hovering around 42 percent.
“Hopefully mid-fall we’ll start being able to vaccinate our youngsters,” Wells said. “Then when can really start to vaccinate our whole population, that’s when we’re going to see the end of this disease.”
