SAN ANTONIO —
These are the facts:
- There have been at least 13,656 cases of coronavirus in Texas and 281 reported deaths from COVID-19 as of 6 p.m. on Sunday, April 12, according to Johns Hopkins University.
- City leaders say there are 772 confirmed positive cases in San Antonio as of 6:15 p.m. on April 12; 248 of them are "community-transmission" cases while 281 were caused by close contact with another patient. Thirty people in the county have died.
- Governor Abbott issued an executive order telling people to stay home unless working in an "essential service" or doing an activity deemed essential. Here is what that means.
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Sunday, April 12
10 p.m.
Val Verde County officials have confirmed a twelfth coronavirus case, this one attributed to community spread.
6:10 p.m.
In their daily briefing on the coronavirus response, local leaders reported 49 more confirmed cases in Bexar County, bringing the total to 772. The number of COVID-19-related deaths has reached 30 after three more people passed away.
2:20 p.m.
Hays County reports its confirmed cases are up to 89, after seven new diagnoses of the coronavirus in the community. Two in the county are currently hospitalized with the disease, and 24 have recovered.
1:50 p.m.
Governor Greg Abbott has issued a proclamation extending his Disaster Declaration for all Texas counties in response to COVID-19. The Disaster Declaration provides the state a number of resources to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.
"By extending my Disaster Declaration, we are ensuring the state of Texas continues to have adequate resources and capabilities to support our communities and protect public health," said Governor Abbott. "I urge all Texans to continue practicing social distancing and abide by the guidelines laid out by the CDC and my Executive Orders to slow the spread of COVID-19."
4:45 a.m.
Pope Francis celebrated Easter alone during the crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Meanwhile, Catholics around the world are forced to celebrate the most joyful day in the Christian calendar largely alone amid the sorrowful reminders of the devastation wrought by the coronavirus pandemic.
Saturday, April 11
9:15 p.m.
The Governor's Mansion in Austin lit up blue Saturday night in honor of healthcare workers on the frontlines against the coronavirus in Texas.
“Their sacrifice and hard work cannot be overstated,” Gov. Greg Abbott said in a statement. “They play a crucial role in ensuring their fellow Texans have the care and support they need during this challenging time.”
6:15 p.m.
Local leaders reported 58 more confirmed diagnoses of the coronavirus in Bexar County in a daily update, bringing the total to 723 in the metro. The death toll also rose to 27, including two more residents from Southeast Nursing and Rehabilitation who have passed away after a recent outbreak.
Meanwhile, the number of those recovered shot up, from 92 on Friday to 119 on Saturday, according to Mayor Ron Nirenberg.
“We are doing the right thing, and we are doing it together," he said during the update. "Don’t give up on staying home and staying safe. We are making a difference—a huge difference.”
6:05 p.m.
For the second time in as many days, a Bexar County inmate has tested positive for COVID-19. County authorities say the affected individual tested for the virus after developing a fever.
The Bexar County Sheriff's Office says the inmate "was housed in a unit where there is minimal face-to-face contact" with others, as well as "physical barriers." According to officials, others who work in the same unit face a low risk of contracting the coronavirus.
5:50 p.m.
Officials in Kendall County report an 11th confirmed case of the coronavirus in the community, a travel-related diagnosis affecting a Boerne resident. The City of Boerne has six of the county's positive cases, while one is in Fair Oaks Ranch and another four live in rural areas.
5:30 p.m.
The number of worldwide deaths from the coronavirus reaches 107,000 while the number of infections surpasses 1.7 million.
3 p.m.
Governor Greg Abbott announced he will temporarily loosen regulations on physicians-in-training to help fortify the healthcare workforce on the frontlines against COVID-19.
11:03 a.m.
Val Verde County authorities have confirmed their tenth case of COVID-19 in the county, said to be community spread related. The patient has been quarantined and undergoing treatment for the past ten days. The individual is stable and recovering well. Four of the previous COVID-19 cases in our county have recovered.
7 a.m.
The confirmed number of coronavirus cases in the United States was more than 501,000 around 8 a.m. ET on Saturday, according to the count by Johns Hopkins University. There have been over 18,000 deaths in the U.S. and 29,000 recoveries.
Worldwide there were more than 1.7 million confirmed cases with more than 103,500 deaths and 382,000 recoveries.
6:53 a.m.
The National Institutes of Health is looking for 10,000 volunteers to participate in a study to learn how much the new coronavirus has spread undetected in the United States. Researchers will collect and analyze blood samples of the volunteers, who haven't tested positive with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.
Coronavirus symptoms
The symptoms of coronavirus can be similar to the flu or a bad cold. Symptoms include a fever, cough, and shortness of breath, 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.
The CDC believes symptoms may appear anywhere from two to 14 days after being exposed.
Human coronaviruses are usually spread through...
- The air by coughing or sneezing
- Close personal contact, such as touching or shaking hands
- Touching an object or surface with the virus on it, then touching your mouth, nose or eyes before washing your hands.
Help stop the spread of coronavirus
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.
Lower your risk
Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
The CDC recommends wearing a mask or cloth face covering if you have to be out due to an essential service or essential activity such as going to the grocery store.
If you are 60 or over and have an underlying health condition such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes or respiratory illnesses like asthma or COPD, the World Health Organization advises you to try to avoid crowds or places where you might interact with people who are sick.
