I got very worried earlier this morning when I looked at my phone and noticed I had several missed calls from Dr. George Fidone by Children's Clinic Lufkin.  He has been the doctor for my three children for the past two decades plus, and he has been a personal friend to me as well.

I called him back not knowing what to expect.  What I got from Dr. Fidone was fantastic news.  Actually, it's better than fantastic news.  It's the news we've been for which we've been waiting for over 2 years.

COVID-19 protocols in East Texas should soon be a thing of the past.  No more masks, no more distancing, none of that.

Here's how Dr. George Fidone says this all came to pass:

"The University of Washington Institute for Health Metrix and Evaluation Office of Research (IHME) has been maintaining data regarding disease prevalence of SARS-Co V2 for communities throughout the United States.  The Omicron is known to be quite contagious. As such, we know that a value that measures its spreadability/communicability (Ro-R naught value) is used to calculate the threshold where the disease is likely to spread. The best available data has modeled that once we drop below 10 cases per 100,000 population, we are at low risk of disease transmission and it is safe to drop all precautions and all health measures unless one is immunocompromised, one is at risk of serious disease or death including the elderly, those with diabetes, serious heart disease, etc... or those with known or suspected acute COVID infection"

Fidone goes on to say.

"The latest data from IHME says that Houston is now below 10 cases per 100,000.  Following their lead, we are now at very low risk of disease transmission, and the healthy population can cease practicing public health measures that they have been observing for the past two years."

"It is anticipated that we are likely going to see a resurgence in late fall and winter, thus let's all enjoy a few month's respite from the drip, drip, drip of COVID."

This will be our first return to "the old normal" in more than two years.  Let's celebrate by springing forward while the masks fall back.

Teacher of the Day Nominations - Spring 2022

Here are some of the area teachers who have been nominated for the KICKS 105/Whataburger Teacher of the Day. At the end of each semester, one teacher is given a $1,000 classroom grant.

 

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