DAVID KAPITAN

Any thought that the start of a new school year might trigger a massive jump in COVID-19 cases around Van Zandt County appears to have been put largely to rest with the Northeast Texas Public Health District reporting just 427 newly confirmed or probable cases since the end of the Aug. 4 reporting period.

According to the most recent NET Health data published Sept. 12, there have been 12,575 confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 locally since tracking began, including 910 active cases.

The number of cases in Van Zandt County since the pandemic began now includes: 3,571 in residents with a Canton address, up from 3,464 cases as of Aug. 4; 3,156 cases in residents with a Wills Point address, up from 3,042 cases; 1,524 cases in people with a Grand Saline address, up from 1,458 cases; 1,396 cases in residents with a Ben Wheeler address, up from 1,355 cases; 1,116 cases in residents with a Van address, up from 1,086 cases; 970 cases in residents with an Edgewood address, up from 932 cases; and 406 cases in residents with a Fruitvale address, up from 389 cases.

Additionally, there have been 179 cases in residents with a Murchison address, up from 174 cases as of Aug. 4; 167 confirmed and probable cases in residents with a Mabank address, up from 166 cases; 143 cases in residents with an Eustace address, up from 140 cases; 84 cases in residents with a Chandler address, up from 80 cases; 36 cases in residents with an Athens addresses, up from 34 cases; 21 cases in residents with a Brownsboro address, up from 20 cases; and 17 cases in residents with an Edom address, up from 15 cases.

COVID-19 cases by age group have included the following: -0-20 years of age: 1,354 -21-40 years of age: 2,088 -41-59 years of age: 2,113 -60-79 years of age: 1,526 -80+ years of age: 337 Of the 12,575 confirmed and probable cases since the pandemic began, 11,337 people have recovered according to NET Health.

Vaccination Rate

The most recent data published by the Texas Department of State Health Services indicates that 42.92 percent of the eligible local population had received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine while 38.32 percent of all eligible residents had been designated as being fully vaccinated.

Among all eligible residents 65 and older, 73.68 percent have received at least one dose of the vaccine while 68.57 percent have been designated as being fully vaccinated.

Up-to-date information regarding the coronavirus pandemic, available testing and vaccination sites, case counts and more can be found online by visiting the Texas Department of State Health Services at www.dshs.texas.gov/coronavirus/.