Per CDC: First, Delta variance brings a rapid and alarming rise in the country's COVID case and hospitalization rates. Second, it is more infectious and led to increased transmissibility compared to other variants, even in vaccinated individuals.

On Aug 9th, 2021, Harris Health said that Hospital’s ICU is full. Houston Methodist The Woodlands Hospital reported at 'critical capacity' due to COVID surge. More than 90% of the hospitalization cases are related to the unvaccinated population. Delta is 50-60% more transmissible compare with the previous variance. Many parents do concern about the kids back to school without protection from vaccines, not enough room to maintain social distance, and even weak mask protection. 

We respectively request HISD to provide PK to 6 graders and including GT students a Virtual learning option for the coming school year. Other ISDs are also working on this and some of them already have a Virtual option available. 

All kids will need to remove masks to have their lunch in school. In PE class, during intensive movement, it will be challenging to keep the mask on. For younger kids, if they cry, their hand will touch their eyes where viruses can get access into the body. What we can do for them, for us, and the entire family? Parents, please search the public data for the virus updates and take the right action!

-Update on AUG 19, 2021 — We have some progress.

HISD now will open virtual options for students who are not vaccinated and with a compromised immune system. You should receive the email from HISD Superintendent. But we still have problems since the virus is not only targeting compromised students. Some schools in the Houston area already opened. But when we look at the data, it is already a big mess. I attached a report below from KHOU 11. https://www.khou.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/houston-record-number-covid-cases/285-5a5d24b9-b116-47c1-84c5-bab59baeb5b6   The campus is not safe for kids that are not vaccinated. Appreciate the effort from HISD Superintendent. But as a parent, we still desire a safe learning space for our kids.