SAN ANTONIO — These are the facts:
- There have been at least 55,971 cases of coronavirus in Texas and 1,527 reported deaths from COVID-19 as of 3:40 p.m. on May 25, according to Texas HHS. It is estimated that 33,385 Texans have recovered from the virus.
- City leaders say there are 2,449 confirmed positive cases in San Antonio as of 7:15 p.m. on May 25. A total of 69 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
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.
Monday, May 25
7:25 p.m.
San Antonio Metro Health reported that an additional seven cases of the novel coronavirus have been confirmed in Bexar County on Monday, bringing the total to 2,449. Meanwhile, no new deaths from COVID-19 complications were reported; the local death toll remains at 69. In all, 1,299 county residents have recovered from the virus.
3:50 p.m.
State health officials reported an increase of 623 confirmed coronavirus tests in Texas on Monday, bringing the total to 55,971. The statewide death toll rose to 1,527.
2 p.m.
A study from Carnegie Mellon University researchers has found that much of the conversation fueling online discourse about reopening businesses and lifting coronavirus restrictions has been fueled by bots.
Of the top 50 most-influential COVID-19 retweeters, 82% were bot accounts.
12:38 p.m.
The World Health Organization said it will temporarily drop hydroxychloroquine from its global study into experimental COVID-19 treatments, saying that its experts need to review all available evidence to date.
In a press briefing, WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that in light of a paper published last week in the Lancet that showed people taking hydroxychloroquine were at higher risk of death and heart problems, there would be “a temporary pause” on the hydroxychloroquine arm of its global clinical trial.
11:32 a.m.
The National Hockey League has unveiled the next phase of its plan to return to play, which will allow players to train in small groups at team facilities.
The NHL did not give an exact date for the start of Phase 2, but the league stated in a memo that it is "targeting a date in early June."
5:45 a.m.
Many laid-off workers who lost health insurance in the coronavirus shutdown soon face the first deadlines to qualify for fallback coverage under the Affordable Care Act.
Taxpayer-subsidized health insurance is available for a modest cost — sometimes even free — across the country, but industry officials and independent researchers say few people seem to know how to find it. For those who lost their health insurance as layoffs mounted at the end of March, a 60-day “special enrollment” period for individual coverage under the ACA closes next week in most states.
5:31 a.m.
Japan has lifted its coronavirus emergency in all remaining areas. But authorities said the lifting of the emergency does not mean the end of the outbreak. The goal is to "balance preventive measures and the economy until vaccines and effective drugs become available."
Sunday, May 24
10 p.m.
The U.S. citizenship process has been brought to a standstill, as the agency that handles the distribution of citizenship, visa, refugee and asylum claims has put a hold on in-person services through June 3, at minimum.
8 p.m.
Amid reminders and urgent calls from government leaders and healthcare experts for the public to continue practicing social distancing over the Memorial Day Weekend, southeast Texas beaches were packed on Sunday with families and visitors, most of them sans masks. For some, it felt like a normal Memorial Day Weekend, with no pandemic to speak of.
6:10 p.m.
Mayor Ron Nirenberg said on Sunday that the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the metro is up to 2,442, an increase of 24 over Saturday. However, there have been three additional deaths from coronavirus-related complications. The local death toll is up to 69.
5 p.m.
The White House has announced an indefinite ban on travel to the U.S. from Brazil amid the global pandemic. The Latin-American nation has been hit hard by COVID-19, and has the second-highest case total, behind only the U.S.
4:50 p.m.
On their first weekend of reopening, Houston's mayor says local bars and clubs have been "blatant" in violating occupancy rules. He hinted that citations are looming for many of them.
4:10 p.m.
Earlier this month, the White House urged every governor to push for every nursing home staff and resident to be tested for COVID-19 within 14 days. According to an Associated Press report, at least half of the states won't meet the deadline.
3:45 p.m.
An increase of 839 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus was reported by state health officials Sunday, bringing the total to 55,348. The death toll from coronavirus-related complications in the Lone Star State rose to 1,519.
3 p.m.
Amazon Prime Day, one of the biggest online shopping days of the calendar, might reportedly push back its annual July date back a few weeks to August amid the pandemic.
1:35 p.m.
Members of the White House coronavirus task force are expressing concern as families flock to parks and beaches across the country over Memorial Day Weekend and the unofficial start of summer, saying that social distancing remains "absolutely critical" amid the pandemic.
11:30 a.m.
A large-scale coronavirus testing program is underway to meet a goal to roll out by the end of the year. As part of the research and development portion of the White House's ambitious 'Operation Warp Speed' plan to get a vaccine to market, thousands could be enrolled.
6:30 a.m.
As the U.S. approaches 100,000 deaths from the coronavirus, The New York Times is designating its Sunday, May 24, 2020 front page to 1,000 victims of the virus.
The names represent only 1% of all the people who have died from COVID-19 in the nation. The front page will exclusively feature a long list of people without articles, photographs or graphics.
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.