On Nov. 16, Comal County reported its highest seven-day positivity rate since Sept. 10. The county’s seven-day positivity rate was 10.42% as of Nov. 16, up from 7.31% as of Nov. 9. Between Nov. 9-16, Comal County reported 187 new confirmed, probable and suspected cases of COVID-19; 28 backlogged cases; and two new deaths.

The newly reported deaths included a New Braunfels woman in her 80s and a New Braunfels man in his 80s; their deaths were reported Nov. 10 and 12, respectively. Since March 16, Comal County has reported a total of 4,134 cases, 3,720 recorded recoveries and 124 deaths. As of Nov. 16, the county has 290 active confirmed cases.

As of Nov. 16, local hospitals reported caring for 18 coronavirus patients, up from nine as of Nov. 9. Six of the 18 are in intensive care, and three are on ventilators. Not all patients are county residents, and not all hospitalized county residents are hospitalized within Comal County. According to data from the Texas Department of State Health Services, Guadalupe County reported a total of 156 new confirmed and probable cases between Nov. 9-16, for a total of 4,075 cases since March 16.

A total of 83 Guadalupe County deaths have been reported to the Texas DSHS, though only 46 have been reported by the 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.

Since the beginning of the school year, Comal ISD and New Braunfels ISD have been reporting symptomatic cases as well as incidents of exposure to a case. Exposure to a positive case includes being directly exposed to fluids from the mouth or nose or being within six feet for 15 minutes or more without a face covering.

As of Nov. 16, NBISD reported 13 active cases, 63 symptomatic cases and 96 exposures to a lab-confirmed case, up from 49 as of Nov. 9. A total of 69 confirmed cases have been reported in NBISD: 52 students and 17 staff members.

CISD reported 96 current cases, 122 symptomatic cases and 741 exposures to a lab-confirmed case as of Nov. 16, up from 338 exposures as of Nov. 9. According to DSHS data, 158 confirmed cases have been reported in CISD: 121 students and 37 staff members.

Residents wishing to be tested for COVID-19 may call the Comal County’s dedicated hotline at 830-221-1120 between 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Testing is only conducted by appointment on Tuesday and Friday.