SAN ANTONIO — These are the facts:
- There have been at least 18,923 cases of coronavirus in Texas and 477 reported deaths from COVID-19 as of 6 p.m. p.m. on Sunday, April 19, according to Texas HHS.
- City leaders say there are 1,015 confirmed positive cases in San Antonio as of 6:15 p.m. on April 19. A total of 39 people have died related to the coronavirus, and 296 people have recovered.
- 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 19
7:15 p.m.
The Bexar County Sheriff's Office reported five inmates in custody at the Bexar County Jail have tested positive for COVID-19. The department said the inmates, which had recently been relocated to the infirmary for medical observation, initially developed a fever over 100°, and were subsequently tested for COVID-19.
To date, a total of 20 inmates have tested positive for COVID-19, in addition to 21 deputies, one video visitation civilian employee, one dispatcher, one Bexar County facilities maintenance employee, one UHS nurse, and one Bexar County fleet maintenance employee.
6:13 p.m.
City leaders say there are 1,015 confirmed positive cases in San Antonio as of 6:15 p.m. on April 19. A total of 39 people have died related to the coronavirus, and 296 people have recovered. The additional death reported Sunday was a resident of the Southeast Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. That is the 18th resident to have died of coronavirus at the center, officials said.
5:45 p.m.
As of April 19, the Hays County Local Health Department confirms there are 69 active lab-confirmed cases of COVID-19. Since Hays County first started providing numbers, a total of 127 lab-confirmed cases have been reported, including one death, a woman in her 80s who had been living in Buda with a relative.
2:32 p.m.
Sad news from the entertainment world over the weekend: Broadway star Nick Cordero faces leg amputation due to complications while battling coronavirus | Cordero entered the intensive case unit at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in LA on March 31 and has been on a ventilator and unconscious after contracting COVID-19.
2:15 p.m.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton says a judge doesn't have the authority to change Texas law. A state judge ruled last week that all Texas voters afraid of contracting COVID-19 through in-person voting should be allowed to vote by mail during the pandemic. But Paxton plans to appeal.
Paxton is also keeping a close eye on price gouging during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Republican attorney says he's received 8,000 complaints just this month about businesses driving up prices on essential items such as masks and ventilators.
9:30 a.m.
Vice President Mike Pence says 150,000 coronavirus tests are now being conducted daily in the U.S. but suggested that governors and not the federal government were to blame for numbers not being higher. Pence tells NBC’s “Meet the Press” that, “if states around the country will activate all of the laboratories that are available in their states, we could more than double that overnight.”
He said the nation has “sufficient testing today” for states to begin reopening their economies as part of the initial phases of guidelines the White House released this week. Meanwhile on Fox News Sunday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said of the testing, “we’re way late on it, and that is the failure. The president gets an 'F,' a failure on the testing.”
8:30 a.m.
Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said Sunday his party is close to coming to an agreement with Republicans regarding a new coronavirus response bill.
Schumer said Sunday on CNN that the Democrats have made "very good progress," and the Senate leader said that he is hopeful they can "come to an agreement tonight or early tomorrow morning.”
6:30 a.m.
There were more than 735,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the United States around 6 a.m. EDT Sunday, according to Johns Hopkins University. There have been over 39,000 deaths in the U.S. and 66,000 recoveries. More than 3.7 million tests have been conducted.
Saturday, April 18
6:25 p.m.
While reporting the latest coronavirus figures, San Antonio and Bexar County leaders condemned the large gatherings of demonstrators that took to Austin streets on Saturday to protest ongoing stay-home orders.
Mayor Nirenberg called the actions taken by dozens at the state's capitol "reckless" and "careless."
6:10 p.m.
Local leaders reported 33 newly-confirmed cases of the coronavirus in Bexar County, bringing the total in the metro to 992. Mayor Ron Nirenberg also reported an additional death from coronavirus complications, of a man in his 50s with underlying heath issues.
Meanwhile, 256 county residents have recovered from the virus, and 78 are currently being treated at a hospital.
5:30 p.m.
Hays County reports four new confirmed cases of COVID-19 among residents in the community, bringing the total there to 125. Fifty-four have recovered.
2 p.m.
Dozens of protesters took to Austin streets to protest ongoing social distancing guidelines, one day after Gov. Abbott announced the first steps in his plan to re-open businesses across the state. It's one of several similar protests that have unfolded across the country, and was promoted by Austin-based InfoWars.
Comal County officials have confirmed zero positive cases of coronavirus for a third straight day.
As of this morning, Comal County's Office of Public Health has received reports of the following test information:
- 581 tests conducted
- 43 positive tests
- 513 negative tests
- 25 results still pending
The county also announced it has set up a hotline for residents to call with coronavirus-related questions and local restrictions. The number is (830)221-1120, and is available between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. You can also go to this website for information.
7:45 a.m.
There were more than 706,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the United States around 7:45 a.m. Saturday, according to Johns Hopkins University. There have been more than 37,000 deaths in the U.S. and 59,000 recoveries. More than 3.5 million tests have been conducted.
Worldwide, there have been 2.2 million cases, 154,000 deaths and 577,000 recoveries.
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.