As of Dec. 10, Comal County hospitals reported caring for 54 COVID-19 patients, 14 of whom are in intensive care and six of whom are on ventilators. Comal County also reported that 45 county residents are currently hospitalized with the coronavirus, though not all county residents are hospitalized within county hospitals.

From Dec. 7-10, the county reported 273 new confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19, bringing the total to 5,206. Four new deaths were reported this past month: a New Braunfels man in his 80s, who passed away Nov. 7; a Canyon Lake man in his 80s, who passed away Nov. 13; a New Braunfels woman in her 90s, who passed away Dec. 1; and a New Braunfels woman in her 70s, who passed away Dec. 5.

As of Dec. 10, the county has 667 active, confirmed cases, and the positivity rate—or the rate at which tests for the coronavirus come back positive—is 21.98%, up from 20.46% as of Dec. 4. “We are seeing a spike in cases and an increased positivity rate in the county,” said Cheryl Fraser, Comal County Public Health director, in a press release. “This is no surprise; with the holidays, it seems to be the trend state-wide and nationally.”

According to data from the Texas Department of State Health Services, Guadalupe County reported a total of 563 new confirmed and probable cases between Nov. 29-Dec. 9.

The county has now reported 4,835 total cases since March 16, 298 are of which reportedly active.

A total of 88 Guadalupe County deaths have been reported to the DSHS, and Guadalupe Regional Medical Center reported caring for 21 COVID-19 patients as of Dec. 8.

Comal ISD and New Braunfels ISD have been reporting symptomatic cases as well as incidents of exposure to a case since the beginning of the school year. 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 Dec. 9, NBISD reported 34 active cases, 62 symptomatic cases and 316 exposures to a lab-confirmed case, up from 160 exposures as of Dec. 3. A total of 136 confirmed cases have been reported in NBISD: 95 students and 41 staff members.

CISD reported 74 active cases, 77 symptomatic cases and 374 exposures to a lab-confirmed case as of Dec. 9, up from 275 exposures as of Dec. 7.

Residents who wish to be tested may call the county’s hotline at 830-221-1120 from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday to schedule an appointment. Testing is conducted on Tuesdays and Fridays.

Residents can also use the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ online search tool to find a testing site.