Previously, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defined exposure to a COVID-19 case as someone being directly exposed to fluids from the mouth or nose or being within 6 feet for 15 minutes or more with or without a face covering. Any student or staff member who met these criteria was required to quarantine for 14 days.
After reviewing data from the first nine-week grading period, both districts have adjusted their definition of close contact to someone being directly exposed to fluids from the mouth or nose or being within 6 feet for 15 minutes or more. If both students were wearing district-approved face coverings, the student who was in close contact would not have to quarantine.
Comal ISD reported 170 exposures on Oct. 20, up from 102 on Oct. 14.
Both districts have reported current active cases and symptomatic cases, which are students or staff who have displayed symptoms of COVID-19 but have not yet tested positive for the virus.
On Oct. 20, NBISD reported 10 current cases and 35 symptomatic cases, while CISD reported 22 current cases and 36 symptomatic cases.
In Comal County, 73 new confirmed and probable cases were reported between Oct. 12-20 for a total of 3,659 cases since March 16. With 3,437 recorded recoveries and 120 deaths, the county has 102 active confirmed cases. Of the confirmed and probable cases, 2,717 were reported in New Braunfels, accounting for 74.25% of the total in Comal County.
As of Oct. 20 six residents are hospitalized, and local hospitals reported caring for five coronavirus patients. One is in intensive care and one is on a ventilator. Not all patients are county residents, and not all county residents are hospitalized within Comal County.
The county’s seven-day positivity rate on Oct. 20 was 6.7%, down from 7.69% on Oct. 16. According to data from the Texas Department of State Health Services, Guadalupe County has reported a total of 72 new confirmed and probable cases between Oct. 12-20 for a total of 3,801 since March 16.
A total of 79 Guadalupe County deaths have been reported to the Texas Department of State Health Services, though only 44 have been reported by DSHS to the Guadalupe County Office of Emergency Management. According to a press release, the difference is due to a lag in reporting from the state system to the county system.
Residents wishing to be tested for COVID-19 can call the Comal County’s dedicated hotline, 830-221-1120, between 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
