Easter weekend sees no COVID deaths
Disease’s spread in area stays low as mass vaccinations continue
No new COVID-19 deaths were reported over the Easter weekend in the San Antonio area, and the spread of the disease remained low as people continue to call, click and wait in line to get the vaccine.
The positivity rate — a measure of the coronavirus’ spread in San Antonio — was holding steady at 2.1 percent, the same as was reported last week, the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District reported Monday. A rate below 5 percent means the disease is manageable, officials say.
Asked about the potential for another surge, Mayor Ron Nirenberg said there is no sign of that in the rest of country and urged people to get vaccinated to avoid one.
“I’m comfortable with the trajectory that we’re on,” the mayor said. “It just requires us to stay the course and not let our guard up too fast. Live your life, but be cautious as people continue to get vaccinated.”
Starting Tuesday, people ages 75 or older may drive through the Alamodome vaccine site to receive a dose without an appointment.
Health officials said 517,067 people have received their first dose, and 312,544 people in Bexar County are fully vaccinated.
Dr. Anita Kurian, assistant director of Metro Health, said two people had “breakthrough” cases of COVID-19, which means that they contracted the virus more
than two weeks after getting their second dose of the vaccine.
In both cases, the people got sick by household spread but their cases were not severe. It is in line with health officials’ goal to have the vaccine program reduce the spread of the disease and its severity if someone does contract it.
“That’s really the focus of any vaccination program even with the flu and other vaccines,” she said.
The mayor said San Antonio has the lowest rate of all the major metropolitan areas in Texas.
Over the last four days, there were 652 new cases added to the running tally.
On Monday, there were 275 new COVID-19 cases reported. Health officials counted 113 cases Sunday, 93 new cases Saturday and 171 new cases Friday.
The total number of coronavirus cases reported in San Antonio since March 2020 now stands at 207,949, but that includes 1,520 backlogged cases that were reported Monday. Backlogged cases are often reported late because of coding and other entry errors, officials have said.
Health officials reported a seven-day average of 167 new cases, down from 190 per day Thursday. Two months ago, that average was nearly nine times higher, with 1,463 per day in February.
While there were no new deaths in the last four days, the total Bexar County death toll increased to 3,210 after a backlog of 58 deaths were added Monday. Those deaths occurred between Dec. 6 and March 18.
In local hospitals, 179 patients had COVID-19, with 23 new admissions reported Monday.
Officials reported 72 patients in intensive care, down from 76 Sunday, and 30 people on ventilators to help them breathe, down from 32 on Sunday.
Testing continues at city sites with and without appointments. For the latest information about testing and vaccinations, go to covid19.sanantonio.gov.