The deaths included a woman in her 80s who was a resident at the Heights of Bulverde, a woman in her 70s who was a resident at Legend Oaks nursing home in New Braunfels and a man in his 70s from New Braunfels with underlying medical conditions.
In total, Comal County has reported a total of 18 coronavirus-related deaths as of July 9.
According to the Comal County Office of Public Health, eight nursing home residents have died in connection to the coronavirus since the beginning of July.
A total of 147 cases of the virus have been reported among nursing home residents and staff in Comal County. The resident at Legend Oaks who died Wednesday is the only known case of COVID-19 at the facility, according to a county press release.
Cases of the virus were first reported in the county’s nursing homes June 25, with positive cases found at five long-term care facilities.
- 55 residents and 22 staff members at River Gardens in New Braunfels have tested positive for the virus, and four residents were hospitalized as of July 8.
- 30 residents and 24 staff members at the Heights of Bulverde in Spring Branch have contracted the virus, and six residents have died.
- Nine residents and three staff members at Kirkwood Manor in New Braunfels have tested positive, and one resident has died.
- Two residents and two staff members at the Colonial Manor nursing home in New Braunfels have tested positive for the virus.
- One resident at Legend Oaks in New Braunfels tested positive for the virus, and they died Wednesday, July 8.
To help support local nursing homes, the emergency management offices of Comal County and the city of New Braunfels have established a resource center in New Braunfels City Hall at which long-term care facilities can access resources.
Facilities can call 830-221-4618 to request personal protective equipment and other resources.
Comal County also reported 50 new cases of the coronavirus July 9, increasing the total case count to 1,142 confirmed and probable cases.
Of the new cases, 33 are New Braunfels-area residents; a total of 823 cases have been reported in New Braunfels
As of July 9, the overall positivity rate, or the percentage of tests with a positive result, was 14.06%, up from 12.63% one week ago, with a total of 8,125 tests having been conducted since the beginning of the pandemic.
Comal County Judge Sherman Krause issued a face covering order July 1, two days before a statewide order was issued. New Braunfels issued an order of this type June 23. Hays County issued a face covering order June 18, and Bexar County issued one June 17.
Reported hospitalizations remained at 32, down from 36 on July 3, according to the county, and 16 additional recoveries were reported.
In Guadalupe County, 929 cases were reported as of Thursday, July 9, up from 901 a day earlier, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services.
Residents wishing to be tested for COVID-19 can call Comal County’s dedicated hotline at 830-221-1120 between 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Several local health care providers and clinics are also offering coronavirus testing.
