SAN ANTONIO – Editor’s Note: Watch the entire briefing in the video player above. Newsletter recipients can click here to access the video.
The novel coronavirus surge in San Antonio continued showing signs of slowing down on Friday, capping a week that has trended in a positive direction for Bexar County.
San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg said 173 people tested positive for the novel coronavirus on Friday in the county. Bexar County has now seen a total of 44,814 cases since March.
Nirenberg confirmed 21 new COVID-19 deaths, bringing the local death toll to 698. The new deaths occurred between July 22 and Thursday, Nirenberg said.
A total of 520 COVID-19 hospitalizations were reported, down 12 from Thursday. Nirenberg said 232 patients in the intensive care unit and 153 patients on ventilators.
As of Friday, 14% of staffed hospital beds and 57% of ventilators are available in Bexar County.
During the daily briefing, Nirenberg was informed that the TABC had suspended The Well’s alcohol permit for 30 days after the venue was cited on Monday for overcrowding and not adhering to social distancing guidelines. He said he wasn’t surprised by the suspension and hopes other establishments will not follow the same path.
Metro Health Assistant Director Jennifer Herriott said during the briefing that her agency has started getting questions about a COVID-19 vaccine plan. She said Metro Health is working on that now and is trying to identify which people will be getting the vaccine first when it’s available to the public.
Herriott reminded people to get their flu shot as soon as it’s available.