Backlog of cases pushes county’s coronavirus count total to 57,145

A backlog of 2,794 coronavirus cases reported Sunday pushed the total number in Bexar County since the start of the pandemic to 57,145, according to the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District.

Fifty-six newcases of COVID-19 were reported Sunday.

Bexar County’s death toll has climbed to 1,130 since the start of the pandemic, an increase of 56 from Saturday. That includes three new deaths and 53 deaths verified by Metro Health from earlier this summer.

No details on the newly reported deaths were released.

Backlogged electronic reporting by various labs has affected case counts across the state, city officials have said.

This weekend marks three weeks since Labor Day weekend. City and county officials had stated on multiple occasions that they didn’t want to see a repeat of the Memorial Day and the Fourth of July holidays, when cases surged in the weeks following.

City and county officials have urged area residents to avoid large gatherings, maintain at least 6 feet of social distance, wear a mask and wash hands frequently.

Metro Health listed 221 people with COVID-19 in San Antonio hospitals, down from 228 on Saturday. Twenty-two of the hospitalized are new admissions.

Of those in the hospital, 86 were in intensive care, up one from Saturday, while 34 were on ventilators to help them breathe, an increase of four from Saturday.

The number of available hospital beds in the county rose by 1 percentage point from Saturday to 16 percent Sunday.

The city operates two free walk-up locations for coronavirus testing at the Cuellar Community Center, 5626 San Fernando, and Ramirez Community Center, 1011 Gillette Blvd.

Both are open from10 a.m. to 2 p.m each day, and no appointment is necessary.

Testing also is available at the Freeman Coliseum, 3201E. Houston St. The site is open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. every day, but an appointment is required. Call 833-2130643 to schedule an appointment or go online to sanantonio.curativeinc.com.