The number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients in Trauma Service Area P was reported to be 18.36% of the total hospital capacity Aug. 16, up from 15.83% on Aug. 9. It is the highest recorded percentage since Feb. 5.
A total of 36 Comal County residents are reportedly hospitalized with the virus as of Aug. 16, though not all residents are hospitalized within county hospitals. The Guadalupe Regional Medical Center reported caring for 31 COVID-19 patients as of Aug. 12, 96% of which were either unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated.
Following an Aug. 10 hearing held by the Texas Senate Committee on Health and Human Services, the Texas Department of State Health Services announced the state would resume filling requests for medical surge staff that cannot be met locally, according to a press release from GRMC.
The GRMC has submitted a request for additional health care providers to assist in setting up temporary units in nontraditional care areas to accommodate the high volume of patients, wrote Elizabeth McCown, public information officer for the GRMC, in the press release.
Area case counts have continued to rise as hospitalizations increase, and Comal County on Aug. 16 recorded 1,326 active confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19. On Aug. 16, Comal County reported 89 new confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19, bringing the county total to 14,000. Of the newly reported cases, 51 were confirmed, and 38 were probable.
An additional 106 recoveries were reported, bringing the total to 12,323 recoveries.
The county health department also reported Aug. 16 the death of a New Braunfels woman in her 70s who died at a San Antonio hospital on Aug. 8. A total of 351 coronavirus-related deaths have been recorded among county residents since March of 2020.
As of Aug. 16, a total of 87,743 Comal County residents have received at least one dose of a vaccine, and 74,509 have been fully vaccinated. According to the DSHS, 55.82% of 133,278 county residents over the age of 12 are fully vaccinated, and 65.7% have received at least one dose.
In Guadalupe County, a total of 82,226 residents have received at least one dose of a vaccine and 70,035 have been fully vaccinated as of Aug. 16. According to the DSHS, 50.07% of 139,873 county residents over the age of 12 are fully vaccinated and 58.79% have received at least one dose.
On Aug. 13, the city of New Braunfels announced the testing site operated by Curative Labs would be temporarily closed Aug. 16 due to staffing changes.
The company had been offering free testing at New Braunfels City Hall since April in partnership with the city and Comal County.
“Due to staffing changes, we wanted to provide an update that we will temporarily be closing the site,” said Terra Williams, Curative’s Texas director of growth, in a statement. “We are actively hiring and training to ensure that we can continue to serve the community as soon as possible.”
COVID-19 testing sites are available throughout the county, and many area pharmacies and health care providers offer vaccination appointments. Home testing kits are also available at some in-person and online retailers.
Those interested in being vaccinated can visit the state DSHS website or speak to their primary care provider for information and to schedule an appointment.
Residents can view a list of vaccine providers on the DSHS website or utilize the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ online search tool to find a testing site.
