SAN ANTONIO — To access the real-time updates blog for May 27, click here.
These are the facts:
- There have been at least 56,560 cases of coronavirus in Texas and 1,536 reported deaths from COVID-19 as of 4:00 p.m. on May 26, according to Texas HHS. It is estimated that 36,375 Texans have recovered from the virus.
- City leaders say there are 2,480 confirmed positive cases in San Antonio as of 7:15 p.m. on May 26. 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
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.
Tuesday, May 26
6:13 p.m.
Mayor Ron Nirenberg reported that an additional 31 cases of the novel coronavirus have been confirmed in Bexar County on Tuesday, bringing the total to 2,480. Meanwhile, no new deaths from COVID-19 complications were reported; the local death toll remains at 69.
5:00 p.m.
Hays County public health officials reported nine new coronavirus cases today, up from 270 on May 24.
4:30 p.m.
Texas saw an additional 589 cases of coronavirus and eight new fatalities reported Tuesday. Statewide, a total of 56,560 cases of the virus have been reported, while 1,536 people have died from COVID-19. It is estimated that 36,375 Texans have now recovered from coronavirus,
2:45 p.m.
Under a new proclamation issued by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott today, another wave of businesses can resume amid the coronavirus pandemic. Under the announced expansion of Phase II of the state's water parks, recreational sports programs for adults, drivers education programs and food court dining areas in malls can resume operations this week. Read more about the governor's announcement here.
12:26 p.m.
The San Antonio Fire Department provided an update:
- Uniformed positive: 6
- Uniformed in quarantine: 1
- Civilians in quarantine: 1
- SAFD personnel quarantined: 2
11:29 a.m.
Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar provided the following update on the coronavirus outbreak at the county jail. As of Tuesday morning:
- 21 deputies are actively positive
- 48 deputies have recovered
- 1 deputy death
- 216 inmates have tested positive
- 1,715 have tested negative
- 401 positive cases in total
- 93 are currently positive, 85 of whom are asymptomatic
- 21 inmates who have tested positive have been released. Seven of them were recovered before being released.
9:30 a.m.
The San Antonio Police Department has provided an update:
May 26th, 2020
- Sworn Officer COVID-19 positive -6
- Officers in quarantine - 6
- Civilians in quarantine- 5
- Total SAPD Personnel Quarantined- 11
9:00 a.m.
While they have not set a date for reopening, Six Flags did release their plans to minimize the spread of coronavirus to guests and employees. Under the plan, all parks - including Fiesta Texas - will have an online reservation system to stagger arrival times, thermal imaging for temperature checks, security screening technology, and expanded mobile food ordering.
8:30 a.m.
The trading floor of the New York Stock Exchange Tuesday opened for the first time in two months, but its controlled chaos will be more subdued.
The floor, known worldwide for the anarchic atmosphere of traders shouting orders over one another, has been closed since mid-March due to the coronavirus outbreak. The NYSE says fewer traders will be on the floor at a given time in order to support six-feet social distancing requirements. They also must wear masks, so no “verbal interest” orders will be allowed.
7:15 a.m.
A U.S. biotechnology company began injecting a coronavirus vaccine candidate into people in Australia on Tuesday with hopes of releasing a proven vaccine this year.
6:30 a.m.
There have been 1,662,768 confirmed cases of coronavirus reported in the United as of Tuesday, May 26. There were also 98,223 deaths related to the coronavirus, according to Johns Hopkins University.
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."
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.