>> reporter: you know, for now that's what the case is. but as you know, with the courts, it could change at any moment. but let me start here in houston because this school district, houston isd is the largest school district in this state with about 200,000 students and they're starting the day today with a mask mandate. just like some of the larger school districts across this state, dallas isd and san antonio and what administrators are lookiing at and what they buoyant is the increasing hospitalizations right now there's more than 13,000 people hospitali ize in the state of texas and 372 icu beds available. i just got back from west texas, covering a tiny town of ira an. the school district opened without a mask mandate and within days they had to shut down because of an outbreak. take a listen. >> in the last week, we have seen more covid cases for staff and students than we did the