More than 4,500 students, staff have tested positive for coronavirus since school started

More than 4,500 Texas students and staff have tested positive for COVID-19 since the start of the school year, according to data released by the Texas Department of State Health Services and the Texas Education Agency.

The number of positive cases make up less than half-a-percent of the estimated 1.1 million students who have returned to on-campus learning since August. More than 2,300 students and 2,100 staff have contracted the virus.

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Between Aug. 9 and Sept.6, when a majority of schools reopened, state health services reported weekly increases in positive cases. Between Aug. 23 and Sept. 6, cases jumped from 213 in a week to 995 for students and from 267 to 792 for teachers.

The numbers do not include data from private schools.

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TEA will start releasing updated numbers for positive cases in Texas schools each Wednesday on its new COVID-19 dashboard created in collaboration with state health services. All schools are legally required to notify public health officials, parents, staff and students of new cases.

Bexar County officials gave the green light for schools in the county to open to on-campus learning Sept. 7 after weeks of online learning.

Taylor Pettaway is a breaking news and general assignment reporter for MySA.com | [email protected] | @TaylorPettaway