“During the past couple of weeks, New Braunfels has seen an increase in positive COVID-19 tests. More and more of our community members are being directly impacted by this virus or know someone who is. The most important thing we can do to slow the spread is to commit to practicing safe habits. We must be diligent in protecting ourselves, our families, our coworkers, and those we come in contact with. Wearing a mask when out in public, washing your hands, using hand sanitizer, practicing social distancing, and using proper cough etiquette are things we can and should all be doing. Following these simple guidelines can have a major impact on slowing the spread of COVID-19 in our community. Businesses also have a responsibility to help curb the transmission in their establishments. They must follow the protocols issued by the Governor and any additional requirements from their licensing agency. It’s imperative that they provide a safe and healthy environment for their patrons and for their employees. While life is starting to get back to normal, we all need to recognize it is a new normal. Masks, social distancing, and diligent handwashing must be part of our everyday routines. Putting an end to this virus is up to all of us. We all have to do our part to stop COVID-19.”
Comal County's Office of Public Health, or OPH, reported 159 COVID-19 cases and 1,441 tests for the virus between June 1-17. Testing in that time period yielded an 11% positivity rate.
Over the last seven days, the rate was 19.3% with 103 new cases discovered from 535 tests.
Residents wishing to be tested for COVID-19 can call Comal County’s dedicated hotline at 830-221-1120 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Several local health care providers and clinics are also offering testing for the coronavirus.
According to figures reported by the OPH, many of the new cases are New Braunfels residents in their 20s.
Comal County's case total stands at 258, with 207 confirmed cases and 51 probable cases.
The county has reported a total of seven deaths since the pandemic began, and 109 cases are active. Six residents are hospitalized.
On June 16, Comal County's case total overtook Guadalupe County's total for the first time since the mid-March after a single day increase of 25.6%.
Guadalupe County reported two additional cases of the coronavirus on June 17, bringing its total to 212.
There have been 73 cases reported in the county since June began.
Of the 38 cases of COVID-19 reported to be active in Guadalupe County, 26 are probable cases.
Probable cases are residents who did not have a positive PCR test for COVID-19, but have met three of the following criteria:
- They have tested positive with a quick-result antigen test, which is less accurate than a PCR test but much faster.
- They are presenting COVID-19 symptoms.
- They have had close contact with a confirmed positive COVID-19 case.
