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Coronavirus Tracker: Bexar Co. hospitalizations continue to drop ahead of Super Bowl Sunday

Facts, not fear: We're tracking the latest numbers from the coronavirus pandemic in San Antonio and across Texas.

SAN ANTONIO — We're tracking the latest numbers from the coronavirus pandemic in San Antonio and across Texas. Here are the latest numbers reported by Bexar and surrounding counties: 

  • Bexar County: On Saturday, 625 new cases were reported, bringing the total number of cases to 181,011. 11 new deaths were also reported, raising the local death toll to 2,208.
  • Hays County: On Friday, officials reported 163 new cases in the county and three additional COVID-related fatalities. As of Friday, there are a total of 15,378 lab-confirmed local cases, while the death toll rose to 198. Officials estimate 13,235 residents have recovered, while 1,945 are still ill with the virus. 
  • Comal County: On Friday, officials reported 39 new cases as well as an additional 69 backlogged cases. No additional COVID-related fatalities were reported. There are a total of 8,435 cases, including 4,403 confirmed and 4,016 probable cases, while 259 county residents have died due to COVID-19 complications. The county estimates 7,584 residents have recovered, while 592 are still ill with the virus.

More county case information is available through the Texas Department of Health Services COVID-19 dashboard.

Stay updated with our latest information on coronavirus vaccines and local vaccine distribution with our ongoing Vaccine Tracker.

How Bexar County is trending

We've tracked how many coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Bexar County from the time officials began reporting cases in March 2020. The graphic below shows the number of cases since June and charts those daily case numbers along a 7-day moving average to provide a more accurate picture of the overall coronavirus case curve in our area and the direction we're trending amid the pandemic.

On Saturday, San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg reported 625 new coronavirus cases for the county, raising the total to 181,011 local diagnoses since the pandemic began. The relatively lower case tally brought the seven-day moving average to 1,147, down from 1,361 on Friday. 

Nirenberg also reported 11 more virus-related deaths in the community for the second straight day. In all, 2,208 Bexar County residents have died from coronavirus complications. 

Credit: KENS

Hospitalizations for the county continue to go down. On Saturday, 969 COVID-19 patients were receiving treatment for their symptoms at local facilities; that is 30 fewer overall patients than Friday. 

Of those 969, 193 patients are on ventilators (down 24 from Friday) and 373 are intensive care (up one from Friday). 

Credit: KENS

Coronavirus in Texas

The total number of novel coronavirus cases in the state since the pandemic began grew by 13,897 on Saturday, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services. That total includes 10,904 new confirmed cases, 2,288 new probable cases, and a backlog of 705. More details can be found on this page

Saturday's figures bring the total number of Texans diagnosed with COVID-19 to more than 2.476 million. 

Credit: KENS

Meanwhile, state health authorities reported another 348 deaths from coronavirus complications in Texas. In all, 38,476 Texans have died from COVID-19.

The number of COVID-19 patients receiving treatment for their symptoms throughout Texas decreased for the eleventh consecutive day on Saturday, to 9,957. That's the first time the state has been under 10,000 coronavirus hospitalizations since Dec. 20.  

The state estimates that about 2.08 million Texans have recovered, while 340,426 Texans remain ill with COVID-19.

The latest update from the Texas Education Agency showed that there have been at least 162,723 cumulative cases among staff and students on Texas public school campuses through January 31. That number comprises 104,365 positive student cases and 58,358 staff cases. More information can be found here.

Credit: KENS

The TEA releases new data on school cases on Fridays.

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Coronavirus symptoms

The symptoms of coronavirus can be similar to the flu or a bad cold. Symptoms include fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, and diarrhea, 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.

Experts determined there was consistent evidence these conditions increase a person's risk, regardless of age:

  • Chronic kidney disease
  • COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
  • Obesity (BMI of 30 or higher)
  • Immunocompromised state (weakened immune system) from solid organ transplant
  • Serious heart conditions, such as heart failure, coronary artery disease, or cardiomyopathies
  • Sickle cell disease
  • Type 2 diabetes

The CDC believes symptoms may appear anywhere from two to 14 days after being exposed.

Human coronaviruses are usually spread... 

  • Between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet).
  • Through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes or talks. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs.
  • Some recent studies have suggested that COVID-19 may be spread by people who are not showing symptoms.

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.

Find a Testing Location

City officials recommend getting a COVID-19 test if you experience fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, or diarrhea.

A self-screening tool is available to see if you need a test.

San Antonio operates several no-cost testing locations, including two walk-up locations open Monday-Sunday from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.:

Cuellar Community Center
5626 San Fernando St.
San Antonio, TX 78237

Ramirez Community Center
1011 Gillette Blvd.
San Antonio, TX 78224

Additionally, Freeman Coliseum offers drive-through no-cost testing from Monday through Sunday between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. An appointment is required and can be made either online or by calling (833) 213-0643.

Here's a Testing Sites Locator to help you find the testing location closest to you in San Antonio.

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