COVID cases still going down

Coronavirus statistics showed encouraging improvement Saturday as the number of cases dropped for the second day in a row and hospitalizations continue to slow.

The Metropolitan Health District reported 684 new cases Saturday — 32 fewer than reported Friday.

Just last month, city officials were reporting new cases in the thousands each day, reaching a peak of 3,002 cases reported Jan. 10.

“Our numbers are moving in the right direction, but we have to maintain discipline,” Mayor Ron Nirenberg said Saturday.

Still, about 1 in every 11 Bexar County residents have tested positive for the virus since the pandemic began in March, accounting for 187,746 cases.

“COVID-19 is still in all parts of our community,” Nirenberg said. “Mask up, keep your distance from nonhousehold members and wash your hands frequently.”

One new death was reported Saturday: a Hispanic man in his 50s who was hospitalized at University Hospital. This brought San Antonio’s total coronavirus death toll to 2,397.

The coronavirus patient count also continued to decrease Satur

day.

Metro Health reported that area hospitals were caring for 746 coronavirus patients Saturday, 97 of those who were admitted within the previous 24 hours. This was 21 fewer total patients than the previous day, with coronavirus patients accounting for 19.5 percent of total hospital patients, city officials said.

Of the 746 hospitalized, 288 were being treated in intensive care — 18 fewer than Friday — and 158 were using ventilators to help them breathe.

Vaccines and testing

As San Antonians prepare for icy weather conditions, and possibly snow, over the weekend and into the first part of the workweek, the city’s testing and vaccination operations have been put on hold.

Testing has temporarily stopped at all city and Community Labs testing sites from Saturday to Monday because of the weather. This includes the Cuellar and Ramirez community centers.

A list of free testing sites and other resources can be found at COVID19.SanAntonio.gov. Residents who plan to get tested this weekend should call the testing site in advance to make sure it is not closed because of the weather.

Additionally, coronavirus vaccine appointments at the Alamodome that were scheduled for Monday were rescheduled to Friday, at the original appointment time.

Jessica Phelps / Staff photographer A member of the Fire Department takes information from a woman before she gets a first dose of the Moderna vaccine at the Alamodome last month.