SAN ANTONIO —
These are the facts:
- There have been at least 49,912 cases of coronavirus in Texas and 1,369 reported deaths from COVID-19 as of 3:55 p.m. on May 19, according to Texas HHS.
- City leaders say there are 2,278 confirmed positive cases in San Antonio as of 6:13 p.m. on May 19. A total of 62 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
Tuesday, May 19
8:30 p.m.
An employee at an H-E-B on the south side has tested positive for coronavirus, according to the store's website.
The employee was last in the McCreless Market H‑E‑B plus! at 4100 South New Braunfels on May 5.
"All directly affected partners at the location have been notified and the store has been deep cleaned and sanitized multiple times since then," the store's website said.
6:20 p.m.
Mayor Ron Nirenberg has extended the city's "Stay Home, Work Safe" order through 11:59 p.m. on June 4, pending approval from the San Antonio City Council. The measures strongly encourage city residents to wear a cloth face covering while in public and minimize social gatherings and in-person contact with people who are not in the same household.
6:13 p.m.
Mayor Ron Nirenberg reported that an additional 65 cases of the novel coronavirus have been confirmed in Bexar County on Tuesday, bringing the total to 2,278. Meanwhile, no new deaths from COVID-19 complications were reported; the local death toll remains at 62.
5:41 p.m.
A federal judge on Tuesday opened a path for a massive expansion in absentee voting in Texas by ordering that all state voters regardless of age qualify for a mail-in ballot during the coronavirus pandemic.
5:00 p.m.
Maverick County Judge David Saucedo announced the first coronavirus-related fatality in the county, an 83-year-old man with underlying health conditions.
There are now 89 cases in the county, according to Texas HHS.
4:23 p.m.
Northside Independent School District's superintendent Dr. Brian Woods announced the district has decided to hold 'contactless graduations' in June, instead of waiting until July as was previously considered. He cited students who are moving away, starting jobs, or headed off to the military as a reason to go with the earlier date.
4:05 p.m.
Officials announced more than 1,200 new coronavirus cases and 22 fatalities from the virus over the last 24 hours. That's more than double the new active cases versus Monday. Meanwhile, 998 Texas residents recovered from COVID-19 in the last 24 hours, bring the total number of recoveries in the state to 29,359.
3:45 p.m.
Officials with the Texas Juvenile Justice Department announced that a youth development coach at the Gainesville State School has tested positive for coronavirus. According to TJJD, the employee left campus on May 8 for an unrelated medical issue and has not been on campus since. The department is now conducting contact tracing, as well as testing all the youth in the dorms where the employee worked over the last two weeks.
No other staff members or youth at the school have shown symptoms of coronavirus, TJJD said.
3:20 p.m.
The City of San Antonio plans to hand out coronavirus safety supply kits to help small businesses and nonprofits prepare to open.
The “Greater. SAfer. Together. Supply Pickup Day” will be held on May 27 at the Alamodome. The supplies in each kit include one non-contact thermometer, two gallons of hand sanitizer, and face masks. Click here for more details.
2:15 p.m.
The following information was released by Comal County regarding coronavirus cases:
As of Tuesday morning, the Comal County Office of Public Health has received reports of the following test information:
- 1,339 tests conducted
- 72 positive tests
- 1,184 negative tests
- 72 results still pending
Of the 72 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Comal County, the location breakdown is:
- 26 from New Braunfels or the immediate area
- 12 from the Bulverde area
- 12 from north of Canyon Lake
- 7 from eastern Comal County
- 3 from south of Canyon Lake
- 3 from Garden Ridge
- 3 from the Spring Branch area
- 2 from Fair Oaks Ranch
- 2 from southwest Comal County
- 2 from central Comal County
1:45 p.m.
The world cut its daily carbon dioxide emissions by 17% at the peak of the coronavirus pandemic shutdown last month, a new study found.
But with life and heat-trapping gas levels inching back toward normal, the brief pollution break will likely be “a drop in the ocean" when it comes to climate change, scientists said.
11:50 a.m.
The University Interscholastic League says they are working with state officials to allow Texas high schools to begin limited athletic workouts and marching band activities in June.
According to a statement from the UIL, the activities are scheduled to resume on June 8, with approval from proper officials.
10:45 a.m.
USAA has announced it is supporting military members, their families and local communities affected by the coronavirus pandemic by donating more than $6.3 million in national and local organizations.
The donations will provide funding across four main areas: financial support for military families, food insecurity in San Antonio and USAA campus locations, COVID-19 medical research and equipment and help to bridge the “digital divide” providing low-to-moderate income students and families access to online working and education.
9:59 a.m.
Comal County confirmed its 72nd case of COVID-19. The case is a resident from central Comal County in their 60s who is hospitalized in New Braunfels.
With six deaths and 56 recoveries, the county now has 10 active coronavirus cases and two of them hospitalized.
8:13 a.m.
The San Antonio Police Department released the following numbers related to coronavirus cases within the department.
Sworn Officer COVID-19 positive -6
Officers in quarantine - 3
Civilians in quarantine- 6
Total SAPD Personnel Quarantined- 9
7:01 a.m.
There are more than 1.5 million confirmed cases of the coronavirus in the U.S. and more than 90,000 deaths related to the coronavirus, according to Johns Hopkins University.
5:54 a.m.
US President Donald Trump tweeted a letter he had sent World Health Organization Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, outlining "serious concerns" with the UN body's coronavirus response.
Trump said “the only way forward” is if WHO “can actually demonstrate independence from China.”
Monday, May 18
7:30 p.m.
Officials confirmed five additional COVID-19 cases in Guadalupe County Monday, bringing the total cases to 114.
91 county residents have recovered from coronavirus, while 23 residents continue to battle the virus. According to the county, five members of the same household have tested positive for coronavirus since Friday.
7:00 p.m.
San Antonio ISD announced that they will be hosting 2020 graduation ceremonies at outdoor Alamo Stadium beginning in June.
For the purposes of social distancing, each student will only get two guest tickets and one parking space. Everyone there must wear a mask, and seating will be organized to keep people six feet apart. A schedule for each school can be found here.
6:30 p.m.
Assistant City Manager Colleen Bridger announced Monday that San Antonio now has the capacity to conduct 3,000 coronavirus tests a day, though the city does not have that kind of demand. Testing will continue to target congregate settings such as nursing homes. Bridger also said she expects the number of asymptomatic tests to increase
6:13 p.m.
Mayor Ron Nirenberg reported that an additional 93 cases of the novel coronavirus have been confirmed in Bexar County on Monday, bringing the total to 2,213. Meanwhile, no new deaths from COVID-19 complications were reported; the local death toll stands at 62. In all, 50% of the total cases in Bexar County have recovered.
5:07 p.m.
Hays County officials reported 13 new positive coronavirus cases since Saturday, bringing the total lab-confirmed cases in the county to 235. Additionally, 152 residents have now recovered from the coronavirus; the county has seen three fatalities from the virus.
3:25 p.m.
Texas Health and Human Services announced the latest coronavirus numbers Monday. HHS now reported 48,693 cases of coronavirus in Texas and 1,347 reported deaths.
It is estimated that 28,371 Texans have recovered from COVID-19, as of Monday afternoon.
3:01 p.m.
As part of his second phase to reopen the state, Governor Greg Abbott announced a new list of what can reopen, including some Texas businesses that can resume starting today.
1:15 p.m.
Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar gave an update on the latest coronavirus numbers for the inmates at the Bexar County jail:
- 392 inmates in total have tested positive.
- 296 are active positives.
- 13 are in recovery.
- 62 have made a full recovery.
- 1 inmate has died.
- 1,620 inmates have been tested in total.
- 1,016 have tested negative.
Salazar said most of the positive cases are asymptomatic and he called that "disturbing" because it could mean that coronavirus is spreading more in the community than people may think.
11:04 a.m.
The San Antonio Police Department released its latest number of cases related to the coronavirus:
Sworn Officers COVID-19 positive: 6
Officers in quarantine: 3
Civilians in quarantine: 5
Total SAPD Personnel Quarantined: 8
10:34 a.m.
The San Antonio Fire Department released its latest number of cases related to the coronavirus:
SAFD uniformed COVID-19 positive: 6
SAFD uniformed in quarantine: 2
SAFD civilians in quarantine: 0
Total SAFD personnel quarantined: 2
6:32 a.m.
China will provide $2 billion over two years to fight the coronavirus pandemic, President Xi Jinping said Monday, rallying around the World Health Organization and its efforts even as the Trump administration has slashed funding for the U.N. health agency.
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.