This Post is Archived: Find the newest information on COVID-19 in San Antonio at the links below.
Texas Public Radio is updating the latest information on COVID-19 in the San Antonio area, along with how local businesses are adjusting,how you can help those in need and what you can do to stay entertained at home. TPR is also providing live updates on the Rio Grande Valley.
Tuesday, May 19
6:40 p.m. — Mayor says San Antonio can test 3,960 people a day
Mayor Ron Nirenberg reported 2,278 total cases in Bexar County, up 65 from yesterday. Of those cases, 23 are from the community, five from the county jail and seven from congregate settings. Fifty-one of the cases have yet to be determined.
There are no new deaths; the total stands at 62.
Yesterday, Nirenberg announced that San Antonio has the capacity to test 3,000 people a day. Today, he confirmed that tthe city can now test 3,960 people in a day, across all labs (public and private).
The percent of positive cases has declined for the third week in a row. Last week, the percentage of total tests that were positive was 3.5%, and the week prior it was 4.3%.
There are 80 positive cases in local hospitals and 20 cases under investigation. Thirty-five people are in intensive care, and 20 are on ventilators.
As a part of the recommendation from the Health and Economic Transition Teams, Bexar County will provide safety supplies and processes for small businesses and nonprofits to open effectively and safely.
The kits include personal protective equipment like masks, thermometers and hand sanitizer and are available through registration on the city’s website. The kits will be available for pick-up at the Alamodome on May 27.
County Judge Nelson Wolff said the county has 2,000 kits available and that roughly 1,000 written requests have been made for the kits.
Wolff reported 397 positive tests of 1,618 total tests in the jail. Of the total positive tests, 78 were symptomatic and 319 were asymptomatic. There are 13 inmates in the infirmary and none in local hospitals.
6:10 p.m. — Watch today's daily briefing
2:30 p.m. — Supply kits available for small businesses
Small Businesses in San Antonio are eligible to receive a supply pack from the city to help with preventing COVID-19 transmission as reopening takes place. The supply packs contain a no-contact thermometer, face masks and two gallons of hand sanitizer.
Alex Lopez is Director of the City of San Antonio’s Economic Development Department. She says many of these supplies have been hard to get.
“Thermometers were definitely harder to locate and acquire but we know that when we buy in bulk the way that the city is able to purchase, we definitely can harness some of that purchasing power that it’s harder when you’re just buying one or two but when we buy a thousand it’s more an impact.”
Lopez says the hope is to supply about 5,000 businesses with boxes. Business owners with less than 25 employees can apply for the supply box by calling 3-1-1. The business must have been impacted by government closures and been in business prior to March 1.
Read more businesses and COVID-19 here.
8:30 a.m. — Summer school plans in Texas
Texas schools can resume in-person classes starting June 1 as part of Gov. Greg Abbott's next phase of eased coronavirus restrictions.
Abbott said school district leaders could resume school operations as long as they follow safe distancing practices and other measures to slow the spread of COVID-19.
The Texas Education Agency released recommendations and requirements for schools to re-welcome students. It includes taking children's temperatures at the start of each day, supervise hand washing twice daily, and maintaining a 6-foot distance between students.
It's also advised there should be no more than 11 people per classroom and school officials should consider a face mask requirement.
Monday, May 18
6:45 p.m. — 2,213 cases confirmed in San Antonio
Mayor Ron Nirenberg said a total of 2,213 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in San Antonio. That includes confirmed cases from this weekend: 72 from Friday, 16 from Saturday and five from Sunday.
Of those new cases, 37 are from the Bexar County Jail and five are from nursing homes.
Nirenberg also announced the city now has the capacity to administer 3,000 tests daily — a benchmark set by the city's health transition team.
6 p.m. — Watch today's daily briefing
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines
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