End of mask mandate, spring break didn t bring spike in Longview-area COVID-19 cases
Experts say the arrival of spring and availability of vaccines could speak to why the COVID-19 number are currently staying low.
Credit: Michael Cavazos Published: 12:29 PM CDT April 11, 2021 Updated: 12:29 PM CDT April 11, 2021
LONGVIEW, Texas Texas lifted its mask mandate and business restrictions about four weeks ago. Spring break ended about three weeks ago. However, local COVID-19 case counts have become almost a trickle, in contrast to the spikes that occurred after Thanksgiving and Christmas, for instance.
Thousands of cases hit the area in Gregg, Harrison, Panola, Rusk, Smith and Upshur counties during each of those holiday seasons compared with fewer than 800 total in those six counties during the past three weeks. If a spike was going to happen, it would have already shown up in case counts, said Dr. Lewis Browne, Gregg County Health Authority.