The outbreak in Texas

The world is getting closer to its post-pandemic normal, as teens line up for COVID-19 vaccines and employers prepare for workers to fully return to the office. Several large San Antonio companies face a litany of questions, ranging from “will the COVID vaccine be required to come back to the workplace?” to “do you need a copy of my immunization card?” So far, most companies are taking a wait-and-see approach, strongly encouraging workers to get vaccinated while allowing an increasing share of white-collar employees to occasionally work from home.

In turn, families are forced to plan for something else: leaving their pandemic dogs and cats at home, suddenly alone from 9 to 5 during the week with no human to snuggle. For those situations, there’s doggy day care. Dog owners also are investing in crate training to help pets transition.

One good thing, however, for those who drink – mixed cocktails are now available to-go in Texas.

More than 12.9 million people now have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, which is 53.6 percent of the population 12 and older. More than 10.4 million Texans are now fully vaccinated, which is 43.4 percent of the population.

In Bexar County, 918,213 people have received at least one vaccine dose. More than 736,803 people are now fully vaccinated, and more than 1.6 million doses of the vaccine have been administered in the county.

Texas reported 8,387 new COVID cases, the seventh straight week with a decline in weekly reported cases. There were 229 newly reported deaths in Texas, the fewest reported weekly deaths since the week of June 26, 2020.

Fewer than 2,000 patients are hospitalized in Texas for COVID-19, with 1,562 people being treated for the virus, and the number of hospitalizations is now lower than it was a year ago.

The positive test rate continues to remain below 4 percent and is currently at 3.14 percent.