Here are the latest Plano ISD COVID-19 case numbers among students and staff

Updated at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 28, with the latest case numbers.

Plano ISD had 123 active student cases of COVID-19 as of Tuesday, Sept. 28, which represents 0.21% of the district’s 50,000 students, according to the most recent figures on the district’s COVID dashboard.

That’s fewer active cases than Friday, Sept. 24, when the district reported 123, and a continued decrease from the previous week’s high of more than 200.

There have been 60 new student cases reported this week for a total of 1,435 cases, or 2.91% of students, since the school year began Aug. 11. The total was 1,086 on Sept. 15.

Among staff members, there are 16 active cases; about 0.31%. In all, the district has reported 226 COVID cases among staff members this year, about 4.35%. Those numbers are up three this week and six for the school year.

The school board voted Sept. 21 to not extend a temporary mask requirement. Starting Monday, masks were no longer required in the district.

In August the school board voted to temporarily require masks inside schools, but left a loophole for the parents who did not want their children to wear a mask.

Parents were allowed to exempt their child for medical, religious or philosophical reasons by filling out a brief online form. About 3,800 students opted out of wearing a mask for various reasons, the district previously stated, but did not break down the reasons for the exemptions.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has announced several lawsuits against school districts over their mask policies. An executive order by Gov. Greg Abbott barred school districts and government entities from requiring masks.

Citing concern for the safety of their students, some districts have decided to require masks, anyway.

Additional details on Plano’s case numbers is available online.