SAN ANTONIO —
These are the facts:
- There have been at least 32,332 cases of coronavirus in Texas and 884 reported deaths from COVID-19 as of noon on May 4, according to Texas HHS.
- City leaders say there are 1,652 confirmed positive cases in San Antonio as of 6:13 p.m. on May 4. A total of 48 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.
Monday, May 4
10:06 p.m.
Bexar County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that an inmate who tested positive for COVID-19, was placed on a ventilator and subsequently removed from life support by his family today, has now died.
8:00 p.m.
At Monday evening's briefing, Metro Health Director Dawn Emerick says the city has flattened the curve – that is, stalled the rise of new diagnoses – as residents have largely adhered to social distancing and mask-wearing protocols. Emerick also stressed that the virus remains a threat in the community.
7:15 p.m.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials say there has been one more positive case of the virus among detainees at a processing center in Pearsall, bringing the total there to seven. In all, 121 detainees at ICE facilities in Texas have been diagnosed with COVID-19.
6:13 p.m.
Mayor Nirenberg announced 39 additional cases of coronavirus in Bexar County Monday, bringing the county's number of confirmed cases to 1,652. 34 of the 39 new cases were reported from the Bexar County Jail. 848 people are still fighting the virus, while 48 residents have died from coronavirus in the San Antonio area.
5:50 p.m.
Hays County officials reported nine new cases of coronavirus in the area Monday, bringing the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the county to 176. 110 of those who have contracted the virus have recovered.
5:00 p.m.
In an interview with ESPN's "The Undefeated," Spurs legend Tony Parker revealed his father-in-law and sister-in-law are healthy again after having contracted the virus in France. He said his own family came back negative once they underwent testing.
4 p.m.
Stock markets end the day having scratched out minor gains on Wall Street, in the process avoiding what would have been its first three-day losing streak for the in weeks. Rallies by major tech companies helped lead the way on Monday.
3:30 p.m.
College Board announces details on how high schoolers will take AP tests as the end of the spring semester looms.
2:30 p.m.
The Mayor of Floresville's office confirmed a total of four coronavirus-related deaths at the Frank M. Tejeda State Veterans Home. That is one additional death from last week's total of three.
The office reports 14 residents and nine staff members in total have tested positive for the virus.
The mayor's office says six of the nine staff members who tested positive live in Wilson County.
12:51 p.m.
The San Antonio Fire Department has reported its latest coronavirus numbers within the department:
SAFD Uniformed COVID-19 positive: 6
SAFD Uniformed in quarantine: 7
SAFD Civilians in quarantine: 0
Total SAFD Personnel Quarantined: 7
11:00 a.m.
Costco will be limiting poultry beef and pork purchases to three items per person as the coronavirus takes a toll on meat production across the U.S.
"Costco has implemented limits on certain items to help ensure more members are able to purchase merchandise they want and need. Our buyers and suppliers are working hard to provide essential, high demand merchandise as well as everyday favorites," the company said on its website.
10:19 a.m.
Comal County has confirmed two recoveries from COVID-19, for a total of 41, and received no reports of new positive cases.
8:52 a.m.
The San Antonio Police Department has reported its lastest coronavirus numbers within the department:
Sworn Officer COVID-19 positive: 6
Officers in quarantine: 2
Civilians in quarantine: 3
Total SAPD Personnel Quarantined: 5
7:05 a.m.
Global stock markets dropped on Monday as tensions between the Trump administration and China over the origins and handling of the coronavirus pandemic rattled investors.
6:30 a.m.
There were more than 1.1 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the U.S. by 6 a.m. Monday, according to Johns Hopkins University. Over 67,000 people in the United States have died.
Worldwide, over 3.5 million cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed. More than 247,000 people have died around the globe.
Sunday, May 3
6:15 p.m.
Mayor Ron Nirenberg reported 28 new coronavirus cases in the metro, for a total of 1,613. The death toll remains at 48.
4 p.m.
Unacast, a New York-based location data company, gave Bexar County's social distancing efforts a D-. It's the same grade as the state at large.
3:30 p.m.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials say at least six detainees at a processing center in Pearsall have tested positive for the virus. A total of 101 ICE detainees have been diagnosed in facilities across the state.
The agency has also suspended in-person visitation of detainees amid the pandemic, and is instead encouraging facilities to make use of teleconferencing technology.
2:30 p.m.
Good news! There are more than 15,000 Texans that have recovered from coronavirus. But, there are still more than 14,000 people who are still dealing with the illness, according to Texas HHS.
1:30 p.m.
President Donald Trump will be at the Lincoln Memorial tonight, giving a virtual town hall event for Fox News about the country reopening
11:30 a.m.
Former President George W. Bush released a video this weekend, calling for bipartisan unity during this time of trying to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
7:15 a.m.
The European Union is investigating on a rapid schedule whether the use of the drug remdesivir could be allowed for treating the coronavirus within the 27-nation bloc following a similar decision in the United States.
The Swedish Medical Products Agency's infection department director, Charlotta Bergqvist, told Swedish broadcaster TV4 that the introduction of remdesivir with is now being studied with a high priority within the EU and a decision may be reached “in a few days.”
6:30 a.m.
There were more than 1.1 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the U.S. by Sunday, according to Johns Hopkins University. Over 60,000 people in the United States have died. Worldwide, over 3.4 million cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed. More than 244,000 people have died around the globe.
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.