Eleven new deaths have also been reported, nine of whom were New Braunfels residents, which marks 157 total deaths in the county.
The newly reported deaths include a Canyon Lake woman in her 70s who passed away Nov. 25, a New Braunfels man in his 70s who passed away Dec. 4, a Spring Branch man in his 70s who passed away Dec. 9, a New Braunfels woman in her 30s who passed away Dec. 22, a New Braunfels man in his 70s who passed away Dec. 25, a New Braunfels woman in her 80s who passed away Dec. 25, a New Braunfels woman in her 80s who passed away Dec. 25, a New Braunfels woman in her 80s who passed away Dec. 25, a New Braunfels man in his 80s who passed away Dec. 26, a New Braunfels woman in her 70s who passed away Dec. 27 and a New Braunfels man in his 80s who passed away Dec. 27.
As of Dec. 29, Comal County has 899 active, confirmed cases. Comal County announced Dec. 16 that seven-day positivity rates would be split into two categories: molecular and antigen positivity. The molecular positivity rate calculates the percentage of positive PCR tests reported to the county, and antigen positivity calculates the percentage of positive antigen tests reported to the county.
As of Dec. 29, the molecular positivity rate was reported at 24.39%, down from 40.46% as of Dec. 24, and the antigen positivity rate was reported at 19.31%, down from 22.43% as of Dec. 24. Comal County hospitals reported caring for 80 COVID-19 patients as of Dec. 29, 19 of whom are in intensive care and 13 of whom are on ventilators.
Comal County also reported that 58 county residents are currently hospitalized with the coronavirus, though not all county residents are hospitalized within county hospitals—down from the 59 residents who were hospitalized as of Dec. 24. According to data from the Texas DSHS, Guadalupe County reported a total of 420 new confirmed and probable cases between Dec. 21-28, for a total of 5,712 confirmed cases and 1,079 probable cases since March 16.
Of the reported cases, 341 are active. A total of 102 Guadalupe County deaths have been reported to the Texas DSHS.
The Comal County Public Health Department began administering COVID-19 vaccines to front-line health care professionals Dec. 28. The department received 200 Moderna vaccines as part of the Tier 1A distribution plan.
“Our healthcare systems are strained with the high number of COVID-19 patients being cared for, [the vaccine] will help to keep our healthcare facilities staffed,” Public Health Director Cheryl Fraser said in a statement.
Once the vaccine is given to essential workers, the county will begin vaccinating people age 65 and older and people age 18 and older with qualifying chronic medical conditions.
Residents wishing to be tested can 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 utilize the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ online search tool to find a testing site.
