Since Dec. 30, Comal County has reported 253 new confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19, bringing the total to 6,375. Six new deaths have also been reported since Dec. 30, five of which were New Braunfels residents and one was a resident of Canyon Lake, marking 163 total deaths in the county. The deaths were that of a New Braunfels woman in her 50s who died Dec. 13, a New Braunfels man in his 80s who died Dec. 14, a New Braunfels man in his 80s who died Dec. 15, a New Braunfels woman in her 60s who died Dec. 20, a New Braunfels woman in her 90s who died Dec. 23 and a man from Canyon Lake who died Dec. 29.

As of Jan. 1, the county has 708 active, confirmed cases.

The molecular positivity rate was reported to be 19.15% and the antigen positivity rate was reported to be 17.5% on Jan. 1. On Jan. 1, Comal County hospitals reported caring for 82 COVID-19 patients, 21 of which were in intensive care and 13 were on ventilators.

Comal County also reported Jan. 1 that 55 county residents were hospitalized with the coronavirus, though not all county residents are hospitalized within county hospitals, up from 49 residents who were hospitalized Dec. 30. The number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients in Trauma Service Area P was reported to be 18.24% of total hospital capacity Jan. 1, up from 15.97% on Dec. 27.

According to Gov. Greg Abbott’s Executive Order GA-32, which went into effect Oct. 14, any business operating at 75% capacity in a TSA with seven consecutive days in which the number of COVID-19 patients exceeds 15% of total hospital capacity must cut back to 50% capacity.

Bars that are not operating as restaurants must close entirely under the order, and the restrictions will remain in place until the TSA P is below 15% for seven consecutive days. Area hospitals must also postpone elective surgeries.

According to data from the Texas Department of State Health Services, Guadalupe County reported a total of 183 new confirmed cases between Dec. 28-Jan. 3, for a total of 6,974 confirmed and probable cases reported since March 16.

Of the reported cases, 127 are active, and a total of 107 Guadalupe County deaths have been reported to the Texas DSHS. On Dec. 29, Guadalupe Regional Medical Center reported caring for 33 coronavirus patients.

On Dec. 28, the Comal County Public Health Department began administering COVID-19 vaccines to front-line health care professionals. The department received 200 Moderna vaccines as part of the Tier 1A distribution plan.

The health authority announced Jan. 4 that it has administered its full allotment of vaccines after a week of scheduled vaccinations.

Information about the next allotment of vaccines has yet to be announced, and Comal County Public Health Director Cheryl Fraser said in a statement that residents can find information about the county’s vaccine availability on the county website.

Residents can view a list of vaccine providers on the DSHS website, and those seeking 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.