Latest coronavirus updates for San Antonio and Texas, December 30

SAN ANTONIO — We’re tracking the latest numbers from the coronavirus pandemic in San Antonio and across Texas. Here are the latest numbers reported by Bexar and surrounding counties: 

• Bexar County: 1,323 new cases were reported on Wednesday, bringing the total number of cases to 115,685. 17 new deaths were reported Wednesday; the death toll from coronavirus complications has increased to 1,538.
• Hays County: Officials in Hays County on Wednesday reported 43 new cases in the county and one additional COVID-related fatality. As of Wednesday, there are a total of 10,524 lab-confirmed local cases (1,754 of which are active), while the death toll increased to 126. 8,644 residents have recovered from the virus.
• Comal County: Comal County officials on Wednesday reported 55 new cases and one additional COVID-related fatality. As of Wednesday, there are a total of 6,177 cases, including 3,888 confirmed and 2,280 probable cases, while 158 county residents have died due to COVID-19 complications. The county estimates 5,340 residents have recovered, while 679 are still ill with the virus.

More county case information is available through the Texas Department of Health Services COVID-19 dashboard.

We’ve tracked how many coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Bexar County from the time officials began reporting cases in March 2020. The graphic below shows the number of cases since June and charts those daily case numbers along a 7-day moving average to provide a more accurate picture of the overall coronavirus case curve in our area and the direction we’re trending amid the pandemic.

On Wednesday evening, San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg announced an additional 1,323 coronavirus cases in Bexar County. Wednesday’s report brings the total of local diagnoses to 115,685 since the pandemic began. Bexar County’s seven-day rolling average for newly-reported cases is now 1,121 cases per day.

17 new coronavirus-related deaths were reported locally. In all, 1,538 county residents have died from coronavirus complications.

Hospitalizations also continue to rise in the San Antonio area, with 1,136 COVID-19 patients receiving treatment at local facilities on Wednesday. That’s 20 more than on Tuesday and includes 159 new admissions. 331 patients are in intensive care, and another 165 are on ventilators.

The school risk level was raised to “high” this week, though many schools remain on holiday break. The county does not recommend in-person education amid the spiking coronavirus numbers in the San Antonio area. 

This week, Bexar County reached its seventh straight day with more than 15% of all hospitalizations attributed to COVID-19 affected patients, enforcing a measure of Gov. Greg Abbott’s executive order issued in September which will restrict business capacity to 50%. 

The county’s positivity rate rose to 19.4% this week, pushing the overall risk level to ‘severe.’ Nirenberg noted Monday that Bexar County conducted fewer COVID-19 tests last week due to the Christmas holiday.

The total number of novel coronavirus cases in the state since the pandemic began grew by 21,469 on Wednesday, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services. That total includes 17,458 new confirmed cases, 3,598 new probable cases, and 413 cases attributed to backlogs not previously reported in the state’s total (more details can be found at the top of this page). 

As of Wednesday, more than 1.737 million Texans have been diagnosed with COVID-19.

State health authorities also reported 326 additional virus-related deaths on Wednesday, marking the second-highest total of newly-reported deaths in Texas since the pandemic began, and the largest number of new fatalities since July 27, when 451 deaths were reported. At least 27,088 Texans have died from COVID-19 complications.

Meanwhile, the number of Texans receiving treatment at hospitals for coronavirus symptoms on Wednesday rose to 11,992, which amounts to a difference of 217 patients compared to Tuesday. That total represents the third consecutive day of record-high COVID-19 patient numbers in Texas hospitals since the pandemic began. Hospitalizations have more than doubled since November 1, when 5,691 patients were hospitalized due to COVID-19. Since the beginning of December, hospitalizations have increased by 32.5%.

The state estimates that 1.402 million Texans have recovered, while 290,155 Texans remain ill with COVID-19.

The latest update from the Texas Education Agency showed that there have been at least 98,601 cumulative cases among staff and students across the state through Dec. 20. That number comprises 62,675 positive student cases and 35,926 staff cases. More information can be found here.

The TEA releases new data on school cases on Fridays.

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The symptoms of coronavirus can be similar to the flu or a bad cold. Symptoms include fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, and diarrhea, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

Most healthy people will have mild symptoms. A study of more than 72,000 patients by the Centers for Disease Control in China showed 80 percent of the cases there were mild.

But infections can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure, and even death, according to the World Health Organization. Older people with underlying health conditions are most at risk.

But infections can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure, and even death, according to the World Health Organization. Older people with underlying health conditions are most at risk.

Experts determined there was consistent evidence these conditions increase a person’s risk, regardless of age:

• Chronic kidney disease
• COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
• Obesity (BMI of 30 or higher)
• Immunocompromised state (weakened immune system) from solid organ transplant
• Serious heart conditions, such as heart failure, coronary artery disease, or cardiomyopathies
• Sickle cell disease
• Type 2 diabetes

The CDC believes symptoms may appear anywhere from two to 14 days after being exposed.

• Between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet).
• Through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes or talks. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs.
• Some recent studies have suggested that COVID-19 may be spread by people who are not showing symptoms.

• Stay home when you are sick.
• Eat and sleep separately from your family members
• Use different utensils and dishes
• Cover your cough or sneeze with your arm, not your hand.
• If you use a tissue, throw it in the trash.

City officials recommend getting a COVID-19 test if you experience fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, or diarrhea.

A self-screening tool is available to see if you need a test.

San Antonio operates several no-cost testing locations, including two walk-up locations open Monday-Sunday from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.:

Cuellar Community Center
5626 San Fernando St.
San Antonio, TX 78237

Ramirez Community Center
1011 Gillette Blvd.
San Antonio, TX 78224

Additionally, Freeman Coliseum offers drive-through no-cost testing from Monday through Sunday between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. An appointment is required and can be made either online or by calling (833) 213-0643.

Here’s a Testing Sites Locator to help you find the testing location closest to you in San Antonio. And here are the dates and times that city-run testing sites will be operating over the holidays.