County reports jump in COVID cases
Hours after the governor took the next step in reopening Texas, San Antonio officials reported Thursday that area hospitals had admitted 37 new patients with COVID-19 — nearly double the number reported the day before.
Government officials said that because the number of new cases fluctuates from day to day, it’s too soon to know whether Labor Day gatherings spurred the slight uptick or whether it will continue. Wednesday saw 20 new hospital admissions, while Tuesday saw 28.
“We’re watching to see how it trends,” Mayor Ron Nirenberg said during the daily city-county briefing. “But from one day to the next, it’s really hard to tell.”
The mayor said health officials should have a better idea of the holiday’s ramifications — if there are any — by the end of the week.
Earlier in the day, Gov. Greg Abbott loosened COVID-19 occupancy restrictions for businesses including gyms, restaurants, offices and retail stores. Those businesses can now operate at 75 percent occupancy, unless they’re in Victoria, Laredo and the Rio Grande Valley, where hospitals are still un
der strain from COVID-19 patients.
“My instinct is that the success of the reopening and whether or not we can do it safely will hinge on whether or not people are still committed to the behaviors — mask-wearing, physical distancing and also avoiding large crowds,” Nirenberg said. “I think if we can do that, we can keep our infections under control.”
Even with Thursday’s increase in San Antonio, the number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients represents a small fraction of the 1,200 hospitalized in July.
Thursday saw 214 patients in area hospitals. Of those, 100 were in intensive care units, the same as the day before, and 43 were on ventilators, up from 42 Wednesday.
The increase in new coronavirus cases remained similar to recent days, with 141 new confirmed cases and two deaths reported Thursday. Officials on Wednesday reported 153 new cases and three deaths.
Bexar County’s total number of COVID-19 cases since the start of the pandemic now stands at 50,425. The death toll is 1,024.
In neighboring Comal County, officials reported 10 new cases, bringing that county’s total cases to 3,270.
With the height of flu season approaching, officials urged residents Thursday to get a flu shot so hospitals aren’t overwhelmed with patients sick with the flu, on top of those with COVID-19.
County Commissioner Justin Rodriguez said the county is partnering with health care groups to offer free drive-thru flu shots to residents Sept. 26 at Freeman Coliseum.
People don’t need health insurance to get one, but they do need to make an appointment by visiting Bexar County’s website. Those without internet access can call the Bibliotech at 210-2890963 for assistance making an appointment.