Councilman Clayton Perry (D10) tested positive for the coronavirus but was in good spirits as he checked into University Hospital, a spokeswoman said.
At 65, Perry is at higher risk for developing serious COVID-19 complications, but without sharing additional details, his spokeswoman said he was not receiving oxygen or on a ventilator.
Perry is now the second local elected official to contract the virus in as many months. Bexar County Commissioner Tommy Calvert (Pct. 4) tested positive for the virus last month and has since recovered.
County Judge Nelson Wolff on Tuesday penned a letter to the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo requesting postponement of the annual event slated for Feb. 11-28 at the Freeman Coliseum. The ask comes a day after the Fiesta Commission announced that it would be moving its planned April festivities to June.
Although the coliseum is a County-owned facility the rodeo retains lease-holder rights on the property, and whether to postpone the event is ultimately up to its organizers, Wolff said.
Under Gov. Greg Abbott’s executive orders, youth-related events and rodeos may still take place at venues limited to 50% capacity as long as health regulations and guidelines are followed.
Meanwhile, coronavirus cases in local schools more than doubled a month after they dismissed for the winter break. Cases shot up by nearly 122% from Dec. 20 to Jan. 24, when compared to the previous two months of case data.
“That is concerning,” said Dr. Junda Woo, the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District medical director. “[From December to January], we did see a lot more cases. That’s why I think it’s helpful to share the [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] guidelines. Now we have a lot more details about – if you’re going to have in-person learning – how you can do it safely.”
That CDC guidance resulted in several amendments to the local health directive for schools. Metro Health still recommends against in-person learning, with few exceptions, as the coronavirus risk level remains high. In addition to excepting special-needs students, at-risk students, and students who lack access to resources, Metro Health also recommends prioritizing in-person learning for early childhood and elementary school education. The guidance was also updated to recommend deferment of contact sports during high-risk-level protocols.
With the rodeo slated to get underway and the AT&T Center introducing reduced-capacity seating at San Antonio Spurs games, the free Community Labs testing will no longer be offered at the home of the Spurs. Instead, the nonprofit that offers self-administered tests for people without COVID-19 symptoms will extend its services to two new locations: Rackspace Technology and the Barshop Jewish Community Center.
Some CVS Pharmacy stores in San Antonio are set to begin administering COVID-19 vaccinations, according to a press release from the pharmacy retailer. Phase 1A, long-term care residents and frontline health care workers, and 1B, adults 65 and older or 16 and older with chronic health conditions, will be able to register for an appointment at CVS.com or on the CVS Pharmacy app. Those without internet access can contact customer service at 1-800-746-7287. Vaccinations will begin Feb. 11, and booking will start as early as Feb. 9 as stores receive shipments.
Emergency responders are urging the public not to call 911 in attempt to schedule a COVID-19 vaccination appointment. The at-home vaccinations being offered by the San Antonio Fire Department in partnership with Meals on Wheels San Antonio and the San Antonio Housing Authority are pre-scheduled and based on lists provided by partner organizations, a fire department spokesman said.
Here are the local coronavirus numbers as of 7 p.m. Tuesday:
- 177,790 total cases, 1,260 new cases
- 2,167 deaths, 15 new deaths
- 1,176 in hospital, 10% beds available
- 399 patients in intensive care
- 232 patients on ventilators, 48% ventilators available
- 133,386 residents vaccinated (at least one dose)
