The number of active cases of COVID-19 are trending upward across several counties in Deep East Texas.  According to the latest active cases spreadsheet from the Texas Department of State Health Services, Angelina and Polk Counties are reporting their highest number of COVID-19 active cases since mid to late May.

The Delta variant of COVID-19, which is reported to be more transmissible than previous variants, is spreading throughout the Deep East Texas area.  The numbers are trending upward in many East Texas counties.

In Angelina County, the number of active COVID-19 cases is now at 106 according to the DSHS.  That's the highest number of active cases in over two months.  Angelina County reported 141 cases on May 13, that's the last time the county was a triple digits for active cases.  The numbers for Angelina County have been trending steadily upwards for the first two weeks of July.  The county's death toll from COVID-19 stands at 288, with the last reported death coming on June 19.

In Polk County, the number of active COVID-19 cases has reached it's highest level since May 25.  At that time, the number was at 94 active cases, while the latest report from DSHS has Polk County at 91.

The active number cases have also been trended upward for Tyler, Smith and Harris Counties. Active cases is such places as Shelby (7), Trinity (17), San Augustine (8), Sabine (4), and Nacogdoches (17) Counties have held steady or trended downwards over the past few weeks.

Most health experts agree that increasing the number of persons vaccinated is the key to keeping the new variant at bay.  Click here for details on getting vaccinated in Angelina County.  Click here for details on getting vaccinated in Nacogdoches County.

 

LOOK: Answers to 30 common COVID-19 vaccine questions

While much is still unknown about the coronavirus and the future, what is known is that the currently available vaccines have gone through all three trial phases and are safe and effective. It will be necessary for as many Americans as possible to be vaccinated in order to finally return to some level of pre-pandemic normalcy, and hopefully these 30 answers provided here will help readers get vaccinated as soon they are able.

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