Coronavirus update San Antonio, Jan. 5: Leaders report record high hospitalization numbers, new COVID-19 cases

SAN ANTONIO – San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg and Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff updated the community about the local response to COVID-19 in their daily briefing Tuesday night.

Nirenberg reported 124,800 total COVID-19 cases and 1,574 total deaths in Bexar County, an increase of 2,152 new cases as of Tuesday. Five new deaths were reported today.

The 7-day moving average of cases is 1,457.

Nirenberg said the new cases reported on Tuesday is a new single-day record high since the beginning of the pandemic.

City officials also reported that 1,318 patients are hospitalized, 369 are in the intensive care unit and 185 are on ventilators. There are 11% of staffed beds available and 48% of ventilators available.

Nirenberg said the number of hospitalizations is at an all-time high since the beginning of the pandemic. The last all-time high was reported on July 13, with 1,267 COVID-19 patients in the hospital.

Dr. Junda Woo, medical director of Metro Health, said more deaths may also start to pile up in the next few weeks and warned that hospitals may not be able to take much more amid rising admissions.

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