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Coronavirus Tracker: Four additional deaths reported, while local hospitalization numbers remain steady

Facts, not fear: We're tracking the latest numbers from the coronavirus pandemic in San Antonio and across Texas.

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: On Wednesday, 186 new cases were reported, bringing the total number of cases to 201,196. Four new deaths were also reported; the local death toll from virus complications rose to 2,995.
  • Hays County: On Wednesday, officials reported five new cases in the county and one additional COVID-related fatality. There is now a total of 16,789 lab-confirmed local cases, while the death toll rose to 233. Officials estimate 16,164 residents have recovered, while 392 are still ill with the virus. 
  • Comal County: Officials reported 15 new cases on Wednesday, along with one additional virus-related death. As of Wednesday, 9,490 total COVID-19 cases have been reported, including 4,997 confirmed and 4,472 probable cases, while 303 county residents have died due to COVID-19 complications. 

More county case information is available through the Texas Department of Health Services COVID-19 dashboard.

Stay updated with our latest information on coronavirus vaccines and local vaccine distribution with our ongoing Vaccine Tracker.

How Bexar County is trending

We've tracked how many coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Bexar County from the time officials began reporting cases in March 2020. The graphic below shows the number of cases since June and charts those daily case numbers along a 7-day moving average to provide a more accurate picture of the overall coronavirus case curve in our area and the direction we're trending amid the pandemic.

On Wednesday, San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg reported 186 new coronavirus cases in Bexar County, bringing the total number of local cases to 201,196. The seven-day rolling case average rose slightly to 187.

Four additional virus-related deaths were reported in the community; in all, 2,995 Bexar County residents have died from virus complications.

Credit: KENS

Local hospitalizations rose slightly to 208 COVID-19 patients receiving treatment at area facilities, which two more than Tuesday. Nirenberg described the current situation as "steadying," as hospitalizations have remained below 250 concurrent patients for more than a week.

Of the 208 currently-hospitalized patients, 42 patients are on ventilators and 74 are in intensive care.

Credit: KENS

According to the Texas Department of State Health Services, more than 23% of Bexar County residents 16 or older have received at least one vaccine dose. More than 13% are fully vaccinated.

Credit: KENS

More information on Bexar County's vaccine progress can be found here.

In this week's update of Bexar County's progress and warning indicators, health officials noted that the positive rate had jumped to 5.6% over the previous week, a change of three percentage points. Nirenberg attributed the rise to a decrease in testing over the last week, possibly caused by Spring Break. 

The case rate per 100,000, meanwhile, dropped to 9.1. Bexar County remains in the low-risk level, as tracked by Metro Health.

Coronavirus in Texas

The total number of novel coronavirus cases in the state since the pandemic began grew by 5,076 on Wednesday, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services. That total includes 4,034 new confirmed cases, 712 new probable cases, and a backlog of 330 cases. More details can be found on this page

Wednesday's figures bring the total number of Texans diagnosed with COVID-19 to more than 2.731 million.

Credit: KENS

Meanwhile, state health authorities reported an additional 179 deaths from coronavirus complications in Texas. In all, 45,879 Texans have died from COVID-19 complications. 

The number of concurrent hospitalizations across the state has decreased for the eighth day in a row, this time by 65 to 3,915 COVID-19 patients receiving treatment for their symptoms across the state, as of Wednesday. The last time the figure was this low was October 11. 

The state, meanwhile, estimates that about 2.571 million Texans have recovered, while 111,196 Texans remain ill with COVID-19.

The latest update from the Texas Education Agency showed that there have been at least 193,496 cumulative cases among staff and students on Texas public school campuses through March 7. That number comprises 126,154 positive student cases and 67,342 staff cases. More information can be found here.

Credit: KENS

The TEA typically releases new data on school cases on Fridays.

[VIEW: PREVIOUS DAY'S TRACKER]

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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.

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.

Find a Testing Location

City officials recommend getting a COVID-19 test if you experience 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, or diarrhea.

A self-screening tool is available to see if you need a test.

Here's a Testing Sites Locator to help you find the testing location closest to you in San Antonio.

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