SAN ANTONIO —
These are the facts:
- There have been at least 23,773 cases of coronavirus in Texas and 623 reported deaths from COVID-19 as of noon on Saturday, April 25, according to Texas HHS.
- City leaders say there are 1,231 confirmed positive cases in San Antonio as of 6:15 p.m. on April 24. A total of 43 people have died related to the coronavirus, and 497 people have recovered.
- Governor Abbott's order for a "phased in" reopening of the Texas economy is already underway. He also announced that schools will stay closed for the remainder of the school year.
- Per city orders, most San Antonians now have to wear a mask or cloth covering in public areas where social distancing is difficult or not possible. Click here for more information.
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Saturday, April 25
6:15 p.m.
Mayor Ron Nirenberg reports the total number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the metro is up to 1,231, an increase of 36 from Friday. No new deaths were reported, but officials did say the number of total official recoveries from the virus jumped from 383 on Friday to 497 on Saturday. That amounts to a 30% jump in one day.
4:15 p.m.
Hays County officials report one new confirmed case of the coronavirus on Saturday, bringing the total number of cases there to 149. One resident has died, and four are currently hospitalized. Meanwhile, a total of 71 have recovered from the virus.
1:30 p.m.
H-E-B confirms that another employee has tested positive for coronavirus. The partner that tested positive worked at The Market at Stone Oak location (23635 Wilderness Oak) and was last in the store on April 18, 2020.
For more information, visit H-E-B's website here.
1:05 p.m.
The Centers for Disease Control has updated its official list of coronavirus symptoms, which can range from mild to severe.
New symptoms include:
- Chills
- Repeated shaking with chills
- Muscle pain
- Headache
- Sore throat
- New loss of taste or smell
Previously, the only official symptoms of coronavirus were fever, cough and shortness of breath. The CDC updated their original symptom "shortness of breath" to "shortness of breath or difficulty breathing."
12:00 p.m.
The Bexar County Sheriff's Office Administration announced that they will begin testing all inmates and employees for coronavirus starting today.
7:45 a.m.
South Padre Island has reopened with limitations in place.
In a press release sent out Saturday morning, it was stressed that everyone must continue to follow the CDC's guidelines to "minimize the spread of the coronavirus."
6:00 a.m.
There were more than 900,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the United States by Saturday, according to Johns Hopkins University. There have been more than 51,000 deaths in the U.S., with 96,000 recoveries and over 4.6 million tests have been conducted nationwide.
Friday, April 24
7:10 p.m.
County authorities say 21 more inmates at the Bexar County Adult Detention Center have tested positive for the novel coronavirus, bringing the total number of COVID-19-positive inmates there to 57.
Bexar County officials say the 21 new patients are all not yet showing symptoms, but they were tested after the unit they are housed in was placed on lockdown.
6:15 p.m.
Mayor Ron Nirenberg reported that an additional 28 cases of the novel coronavirus have been confirmed in Bexar County on Friday, bringing the total to 1,195. No new deaths from COVID-19 complications were reported, keeping the county death toll at 43. In all, 383 county residents have recovered from the virus.
3:00 p.m.
Gov. Greg Abbott is expected to reveal the next steps of his team's plan to slowly reopen Texas. An announcement on details of those steps could come as early as Monday.
12:35 p.m.
President Donald Trump signed a $484 billion bill Friday to aid employers and hospitals under stress from the coronavirus pandemic that has killed more than 50,000 Americans and devastated broad swaths of the economy.
10:35 a.m.
The San Antonio Fire Department provided the following information regarding coronavirus cases.
April 24, 2020
SAFD Uniformed COVID-19 positive -6
SAFD Uniformed in quarantine - 48
SAFD Civilians in quarantine-0
Total SAFD Personnel Quarantined- 48
10:30 a.m.
Goodwill Industries of San Antonio is offering virtual services for people need a job due to the economic effects of the coronavirus pandemic.
Included in the services are career coaching, resume writing, job interview coaching and job search assistance. The Good Careers Center will switch to virtual services to help job seekers safely.
8:30 a.m.
The San Antonio Police Department provided an updated look at their coronavirus case numbers:
- Sworn Officer COVID-19 positive -6
- Officers in quarantine - 2
- Civilians in quarantine- 8
- Total SAPD Personnel Quarantined- 10
6:30 a.m.
Retail is trying to make a comeback in Texas. Starting today all non-essential businesses that have been closed will be allowed to open with curbside pickup. It is the first step in a slow re-opening of Texas businesses.
6 a.m.
President Donald Trump will be holding a signing ceremony today for a bill providing a nearly $500 billion infusion of coronavirus spending, rushing new relief to employers and hospitals buckling under the strain of a pandemic that has claimed almost 50,000 American lives and one in six U.S. jobs.
12:01 a.m.
There were more than 869,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the United States around 12 a.m. Friday, according to Johns Hopkins University. There have been more than 49,000 deaths in the U.S., with 80,000 recoveries. Over 4.6 million tests have been conducted nationwide.
Coronavirus symptoms
The symptoms of coronavirus can be similar to the flu or a bad cold. Symptoms include a fever, cough, and shortness of breath, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
Most healthy people will have mild symptoms. A study of more than 72,000 patients by the Centers for Disease Control in China showed 80 percent of the cases there were mild.
But infections can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure, and even death, according to the World Health Organization. Older people with underlying health conditions are most at risk.
The CDC believes symptoms may appear anywhere from two to 14 days after being exposed.
Human coronaviruses are usually spread through...
- The air by coughing or sneezing
- Close personal contact, such as touching or shaking hands
- Touching an object or surface with the virus on it, then touching your mouth, nose or eyes before washing your hands.
Help stop the spread of coronavirus
- Stay home when you are sick.
- Eat and sleep separately from your family members
- Use different utensils and dishes
- Cover your cough or sneeze with your arm, not your hand.
- If you use a tissue, throw it in the trash.
Lower your risk
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
- The CDC recommends wearing a mask or cloth face covering if you have to be out due to an essential service or essential activity such as going to the grocery store.
- If you are 60 or over and have an underlying health condition such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes or respiratory illnesses like asthma or COPD, the World Health Organization advises you to try to avoid crowds or places where you might interact with people who are sick.