SAN ANTONIO — We're tracking the latest numbers from the coronavirus pandemic in San Antonio and across Texas. Here are the latest numbers reported by Bexar and surrounding counties:
- Bexar County: 535 new cases and nine fatalities from COVID-19 were reported Saturday. There have been a total of 19,137 cases and 175 virus-related fatalities in the county.
- Comal County: Comal County reported 37 new cases of coronavirus Saturday (bringing the total to 1,282) and one new COVID-19 related death. 22 people have now died in the county, while 458 have recovered. The positivity rate is 15.10%, up from 14.75% Friday and 12.67% one week ago.
- Hays County: The county reported 92 new lab-confirmed coronavirus cases Friday. As of July 10, the Hays County Local Health Department confirms a total of 3,501 cases in the county, 2,835 of which remain active. The county's death toll is 11. 69 Hays County residents remain hospitalized with COVID-19.
Here are the full numbers for Bexar County. San Antonio Metro Health updates them at 7 p.m. daily.
How Bexar County is trending:
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.
On Saturday, Mayor Ron Nirenberg reported 535 newly confirmed cases of coronavirus in Bexar County. The total number of cases in the San Antonio area now sits at 19,137.
According to the mayor on Friday, 75% of county residents with coronavirus are Hispanic. He says people between the ages of 20 and 29 make up the largest portion of local cases, around 25%.
The number of patients in Bexar County hospitals dropped slightly to 1,221. The number of patients in ICU fell to to 401, and 249 patients are on ventilators. 11 percent of local hospital beds are available.
Coronavirus in Texas
Texas recorded its highest one-day increase in coronavirus cases with 10,351 on Saturday. The state also reported 99 deaths Saturday. Texas had passed the 3,000 coronavirus death milestone Friday. The past five days have brought the five highest 24-hour death tolls as well as the five highest daily increases in new cases. 397 Texans have died since Wednesday, which is nearly 13% of the 3,112 deaths so far.
After almost a month of steady growth, there are now over 10,000 Texans in the hospital with coronavirus. Fewer than 1,000 of the 8,724 ICU beds across the state are available. In two weeks, the number of Texans in the hospital has doubled.
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Coronavirus symptoms
The symptoms of coronavirus can be similar to the flu or a bad cold. Symptoms include fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting and diarrhea, 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.
On June 25, the CDC expanded the list of groups at a higher risk of severe illness due to coronavirus.
Experts determined there was consistent evidence these conditions increase a person's risk, regardless of age:
- Chronic kidney disease
- COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
- Obesity (BMI of 30 or higher)
- Immunocompromised state (weakened immune system) from solid organ transplant
- Serious heart conditions, such as heart failure, coronary artery disease, or cardiomyopathies
- Sickle cell disease
- Type 2 diabetes
The CDC believes symptoms may appear anywhere from two to 14 days after being exposed.
Human coronaviruses are usually spread...
- Between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet).
- Through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes or talks. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs.
- Some recent studies have suggested that COVID-19 may be spread by people who are not showing symptoms.
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.