City to launch new model with updated COVID-19 data on Wednesday

SAN ANTONIO – Editor’s Note: Watch the full rundown in the video player above. Newsletter recipients can Click here to access the video.

San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg and Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff briefed the community on the local response to COVID-19 at their daily briefing Tuesday night.

These are some of the highlights:

• Nirenberg reported 31,867 total COVID-19 cases and 274 total deaths in Bexar County, through Tuesday, an increase of 551 new cases. Twelve new deaths were reported today.
• Municipal authorities also reported that 1,166 patients are hospitalized, 435 are in the intensive care unit and 288 are on ventilators. There are 10% beds available and 47% fans available.
• Nirenberg said 33% of hospital admissions in the area are related to COVID-19 cases.
• The mayor said the city will launch a new model on Wednesday that will show updated data on how the city is doing during the pandemic. He said more information will be released during the next briefing. “We all must do our part. We are at its peak right now, “he said.
• Dr. Colleen Bridger, acting director of the Metropolitan Health District and assistant city manager, said the city has made great progress with hiring case investigators and partnering with a company for contract trackers. She said the city has 116 full-time case investigators and 12 full-time contact trackers who were hired through a contract with an outside company.
• Bridger said there are 211 cases of babies 1 year old and younger who have COVID-19. She said they have typically seen less acute infections in these types of cases.
• Dr. Lynette Watkins, medical director of Baptist Healthcare System, said the Southwest Texas Regional Advisory Council has a pediatric division that is working on a triage plan if needed.
• Watkins said Baptist Healthcare System has partnered with the US Department of Defense and state and local governments to bring in additional nurses and clinical staff members.
• Watkins also said that hospitals need convalescent plasma, regardless of blood type, to care for critically ill patients and encourages people to donate.

Track daily spikes in COVID-19 cases in San Antonio, Bexar County

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