One topic that has been dominating the media headlines this month is back-to-school, and the concerns of parents and students due to the recent surge of COVID-19. Two such recent stories highlighted some of the issues facing families. On KXAN on August 4, Central Texas parents worry about sending kids back to school amid COVID-19 surge focused on finding convenient and timely COVID testing for families, and on KVUE on August 10, Eanes ISD parents share mixed stance on topic of mask mandates highlighted the ongoing debate that school districts are hearing about mandatory mask mandates.
At a recent Eanes ISD Board of Trustees board meeting, parents expressed their views, both pro and con, on a mask mandate. At this meeting, more than a dozen physicians who are also Eanes ISD parents put on their white coats and masks and pleaded with the district to mandate masks. "The masking universal – teachers, staff, everybody that's in the building, every single child needs to be masked," said parent Rachel Breedlove MD, Ob/Gyn at ARC South OB.
COVID testing
Parents also decried the lack of COVID testing. ARC assured the community that Austin Regional Clinic has plenty of capacity for a direct COVID test. Anyone without symptoms, even if they had exposure, can bypass an appointment with a physician and book online to get a test at an ARC drive-up testing site. We also provide COVID-testing along with a COVID visit at all primary care locations. The clinic says if a patient is symptomatic and needs a telemedicine visit, capacity is limited by the increase in demand for regular medical needs in the clinic such as well-child check visits, and now COVID-related telemedicine visits.
Schedule a COVID test at ARC
Patients can access more information about COVID testing at ARC at ARCcovidcare.com.