As the highly contagious Delta variant of the coronavirus silently swarms throughout the Lone Star State, the pandemic in Texas has taken an undeniable turn for the worse in recent weeks. With hospitalizations for the deadly disease rising to heights not seen in months and new daily case counts rapidly increasing, a new surge is clearly underway propelled largely by younger, unvaccinated residents falling ill to the virus.

With the school year fast approaching, recently minted Houston ISD Superintendent Millard House II released a video message this weekend in an attempt to reassure district parents and students that even with HISD’s continued plans for 100 percent in-person classes starting August 23 that the school district is still on full alert about COVID-19 issues.

His video came after there were news reports — KTRK (Channel 13) and KHOU (Channel 11) — saying HISD was reducing its coronavirus health emergency strategies despite a recent and significant uptick in the number of COVID-19 cases in the area and the state. Gov. Greg Abbott had already placed a ban on classroom mask mandates in a May executive order.

“I wanted to make sure that our community understands and knows that we are working closely with the Harris County Health Department, as well as working in accordance with the CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics to monitor the COVID-19 issues that are going on throughout our community,” House said.