SAN ANTONIO — To access the real-time updates blog for Sunday, May 24, click here.
These are the facts:
- There have been at least 54,509 cases of coronavirus in Texas and 1,506 reported deaths from COVID-19 as of 4 p.m. on May 23, according to Texas HHS. It is estimated that 33,385 Texans have recovered from the virus.
- City leaders say there are 2,392 confirmed positive cases in San Antonio as of 6:13 p.m. on May 22. A total of 66 people have died related to the coronavirus.
- Governor Abbott's order for a "phased in" reopening of the Texas economy got underway Friday, May 1, and further phases are expected. You can find more information about that here.
- Per city orders, most San Antonians need to wear a mask or cloth covering in public areas where social distancing is difficult or not possible. Click here for more information.
NEW DAILY CORONAVIRUS CASES IN BEXAR COUNTY:
We're tracking how many coronavirus cases are confirmed in Bexar County each day from the time San Antonio Metro Health began reporting cases more than two months ago. Graphing those daily case numbers along a 14-day moving average provides an accurate picture of the curve in the San Antonio area and the direction we're heading amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Saturday, May 23
6:50 p.m.
A crowd of a few dozen demonstrators gathered once again in Austin on Saturday to protect statewide closures, despite the gradual reopening of various businesses in recent weeks.
6:13 p.m.
Mayor Ron Nirenberg reported an additional 26 cases of the novel coronavirus in Bexar County, bringing the total to 2,418. No new deaths were reported Saturday, and the death toll remains at 66.
4 p.m.
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the state rose by more than 1,000 Saturday, for a new total of 54,509. Meanwhile, 1,506 Texans have died from complications related to the novel coronavirus.
2:00 p.m
Officials in Hays County are reporting four new cases, up from 266 on Friday, bringing the total number of lab-confirmed cases to 270.
The number of those considered recovered remains at 158.
12:00 p.m.
Worldwide confirmed cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus, reached 5 million early Thursday morning. That's according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University.
Just before 2 a.m. EDT, the tabulation read 5,000,038. That includes more than 328,000 confirmed deaths. More than 2 million have recovered.
11:30 a.m.
A vaccine expert at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center in Seattle, Dr. Larry Corey, told Reuters, somewhere between 100,000 and 150,000 people are expected to be enrolled in a massive coronavirus vaccine testing program.
Corey says a highly effective vaccine could be tested in about 6 months if researchers see a large difference between the vaccine and a placebo.
Another possible time frame for what researchers are calling a "modestly effective vaccine" could take nine to 12 month
6:30 a.m.
The U.N. disarmament chief warns that cybercrime is on the rise, with a 600% increase in malicious emails during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Friday, May 22
7:20 p.m.
The unemployment rate in Texas hit 12.8% in April, accounting for the state's worst monthly tally on record.
7:10 p.m.
According to Johns Hopkins University, more than 2 million people around the world have recovered from the novel coronavirus. More than 350,000 of those are in the U.S. alone.
6:50 p.m.
Anthony Fauci, the U.S.'s leading infectious disease expert, said on Friday that while being locked down for too long will cause "irreparable damage" to the country, reopening without a phased approach could be dangerous.
6:15 p.m
Mayor Ron Nirenberg reported an additional 21 lab-confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus among metro residents, bringing the total to 2,371. However, he also reported two additional deaths from coronavirus-related complications, bringing Bexar County's death toll to 66.
4:30 p.m.
State health officials reported 1,181 new cases of coronavirus in Texas and 40 new fatalities over the last 24 hours.
There have been at least 53,449 cases of coronavirus in Texas and 1,480 reported deaths from COVID-19 as of 4:30 p.m. on May 22, according to Texas HHS.
It is estimated that 32,277 Texans have recovered from the virus.
2:30 p.m.
As attention turns to testing all residents and staff at Texas nursing homes, a federal report released this week shows most of the country's nursing homes had "persistent" issues preventing the spread of infections within their facilities even before the current pandemic began.
12:30 p.m.
In a Friday press briefing, President Trump said governors should allow churches and other places of worship to open "right now," calling them essential during the pandemic. It's unclear if he has the authority to overrule individual governors' orders on the matter.
10:43 a.m.
Comal County officials confirm their 82nd case of coronavirus.
With six deaths and 56 recoveries, the county now has 20 active COVID-19 cases, two of them hospitalized.
10:30 a.m.
Worldwide confirmed cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus, reached 5 million early Thursday morning. That's according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University.
10:14 a.m
The San Antonio Fire Department has released updated numbers of coronavirus cases:
May 22, 2020
-SAFD Uniformed COVID-19 positive -6
-SAFD Uniformed in quarantine - 1
-SAFD Civilians in quarantine-0
-Total SAFD Personnel Quarantined- 1
Service delivery to the citizens of the City of San Antonio has not been impacted.
6:45 a.m.
There have been 1,577,758 confirmed coronavirus cases in the United States, according to Johns Hopkins University. There have also been 94,729 deaths related to coronavirus.
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.