Daily Archives: January 7, 2021

Facts not fear: We're tracking the latest numbers from the coronavirus pandemic in San Antonio and across Texas.

SAN ANTONIO We're tracking the latest numbers from the coronavirus pandemic in San Antonio and across Texas. Here are the latest numbers reported by Bexar and surrounding counties:

More county case information is available through theTexas Department of Health Services COVID-19 dashboard.

Stay updated with our latest information on coronavirus vaccines and local vaccine distribution with our ongoing Vaccine Tracker.

How Bexar County is trending

We've tracked how many coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Bexar County from the time officials began reporting cases in March 2020. The graphic below shows the number of cases since June and charts those daily case numbers along a 7-day moving average to provide a more accurate picture of the overall coronavirus case curve in our area and the direction we're trending amid the pandemic.

On Tuesday evening, Mayor Ron Nirenberg reported an additional 2,152 cases of the novel coronavirus in Bexar County, raising the case total to 124,800. Local officials said that number represents a high mark for newly-reported cases in the county and raised the seven-day rolling average to 1,457 newly reported cases per day.

Five additional deaths from COVID-19 complications were added to the county's death toll, which rose to 1,574 fatalities Tuesday.

Meanwhile, a record number of COVID-19 patients are currently hospitalized in Bexar County. Local hospitals reported 181 new admissions overnight, raising the number of patients currently hospitalized to 1,318. It's the first time that number has been above 1,300; the previous high watermark for local hospitalizations was 1,267 in July.

Of the 1,318 patients receiving treatment, 369 patients are in intensive care and 185 are on ventilators. Two patients from El Paso remain hospitalized in Bexar County.

Currently, 33.6% of all hospital patients in Bexar County have COVID-19. Earlier this week, city officials also reported that the local positivity rate has increased by four percentage points over the last week to 23.2%.

Coronavirus in Texas

The total number of novel coronavirus cases in the state since the pandemic began grew by 31,630 on Tuesday, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services. That total includes 26,543 new confirmed cases, 3,637 new probable cases and 1,450 cases attributed to backlogs not previously reported in the state's total (more details can be found at the top of this page). Tuesday marks just the second time the state has reported more than 30,000 new COVID-19 cases.

As of Tuesday, more than 1.843 million Texans have been diagnosed with COVID-19.

State health authorities also reported 250 additional virus-related deaths on Tuesday. At least 28,219 Texans have died from COVID-19 complications.

Meanwhile, the number of Texans receiving treatment at hospitals for coronavirus symptoms on Tuesday to 13,308, marking another record high. Hospitalizations have risen by 45% since Dec. 1, a continuation of a fall/winter coronavirus surge that began in early October and continues to trend in the wrong direction.

The state estimates that about 1.488 million Texans have recovered, while 314,465 Texans remain ill with COVID-19.

The latest update from the Texas Education Agency showed that there have been at least 98,601 cumulative cases among staff and students across the state through Dec. 20. That number comprises 62,675 positive student cases and 35,926 staff cases. More information can be found here.

The TEA releases new data on school cases on Fridays.

Latest Coronavirus Headlines

Coronavirus symptoms

The symptoms of coronavirus can be similar to the flu or a bad cold. Symptoms include fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, and diarrhea, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

Most healthy people will have mild symptoms. A study of more than 72,000 patients by the Centers for Disease Control in China showed 80 percent of the cases there were mild.

But infections can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure, and even death, according to the World Health Organization. Older people with underlying health conditions are most at risk.

But infections can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure, and even death, according to the World Health Organization. Older people with underlying health conditions are most at risk.

Experts determined there was consistent evidence these conditions increase a person's risk, regardless of age:

The CDC believes symptoms may appear anywhere from two to 14 days after being exposed.

Human coronaviruses are usually spread...

Help stop the spread of coronavirus

Find a Testing Location

City officials recommend getting a COVID-19 test if you experience fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, or diarrhea.

San Antonio operates several no-cost testing locations, including two walk-up locations open Monday-Sunday from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.:

Cuellar Community Center5626 San Fernando St.San Antonio, TX 78237

Ramirez Community Center1011 Gillette Blvd.San Antonio, TX 78224

Additionally, Freeman Coliseum offers drive-through no-cost testing from Monday through Sunday between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. An appointment is required and can be made either onlineor by calling (833) 213-0643.

Here's a Testing Sites Locatorto help you find the testing location closest to you in San Antonio. And here are the dates and times that city-run testing sites will be operating over the holidays.

See the original post:

Coronavirus Tracker: Record number of patients hospitalized in Bexar County for COVID-19 treatment - KENS5.com

CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Ohio Department of Health has reported nearly 1,000 coronavirus deaths to patients of nursing homes and other long-term care facilities over the last four weeks, including 203 reported Wednesday.

With the total now reaching 5,059 since the onset of coronavirus in Ohio about a year ago, the long-term care facilities account for 54% of all known COVID-19 deaths in the state.

The state health department in its weekly update for the facilities reported 3,785 current cases involving patients, and another 2,427 involving long-term care facility staff. Current cases are defined as those active during the seven-day period ending Tuesday.

The state began tracking nursing home cases by facility on April 15. There have been 39,667 patient cases and 27,529 staff cases since then.

The health department each Wednesday provides updates on deaths by county and cases by facility for the long-term care facilities. Facility-by-facility details can be found below.

This weeks report listed 4,690 deaths for cases since April 15. Separately, the department has said another 369 patient deaths pre-date the start of the more detailed tracking on April 15.

Among the deaths since April 15, with the most are Franklin (429), Cuyahoga (389), Summit (380), Lucas (249), Mahoning (206) and Stark (204).

Below is a list of case totals by facility. If you are having trouble viewing the list, use this link instead.

Rich Exner, data analysis editor for cleveland.com, writes about numbers on a variety of topics. Follow on Twitter @RichExner. See other data-related stories at cleveland.com/datacentral.

Previous stories

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Excerpt from:

Ohios coronavirus nursing home deaths top 5,000 with 203 added this week - cleveland.com

* More growth in view for one of few countries to expand in 2020

* Strict virus controls a boost for investment appeal vs peers

* Two free trade deals in 2020; manufacturers lured from China

* Vietnam funds cite ease in attracting foreign investment

HANOI, Jan 7 (Reuters) - Vietnams success in curbing the coronavirus so far, while its Southeast Asia neighbours struggle, is helping the country power ahead in economic growth and attracting funds, foreign investors, experts and analysts say.

Its strength in containing the pandemic saw it build on the foundations of two free trade agreements signed in 2020, also outpacing peers in luring manufacturers moving production out of China because of the Beijing-Washington trade war. Vietnam was one of the worlds few countries to record growth last year - well down on 2019, but still a 2.9% expansion.

Vietnam watchers expect the country to ride high as long as it keeps the virus - resurgent in many countries - at bay. Thanks to rigorously targeted testing, a centralised quarantine programme and early border closures, Vietnams coronavirus tally stands at just over 1,500 cases and 35 deaths to date - far fewer than any comparable country given its population of nearly 98 million.

The successful management of the pandemic to date has already enabled the country to capture a larger share of global trade and FDI (foreign direct investment) during 2020, said Carolyn Turk, the World Banks country director in Vietnam.

Parliament has set an economic growth target of 6% for this year, but Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, looking to extend his term or rise up the Communist Party of Vietnams ranks, said last month that Vietnam would target 6.5%.

At WHA Group, a Thai logistics firm which has expanded its industrial estate business in Vietnam, chairwoman Jareeporn Jarukornsakul said investors who had wanted to relocate operations to Thailand from China had not been able to do so because the coronavirus had spread in Thailand.

While infrastructure and regulatory issues are worse in Vietnam than in Thailand, she said, Costs are cheap in Vietnam and its government is very quick with investment, allowing provinces to issue their own regulations and investment incentives.

Still, there is much work to be done, even if the country does retain its prowess in handling the coronavirus: Vietnam suffers from a lack of highly-skilled labour, its dated bureaucracy is in need of digitisation and there is an over-reliance on polluting coal imports to fuel development.

But the cocktail of positives flowing through the economy currently has left foreign-invested asset managers in Vietnam able to raise significant amounts, for example, with some reporting oversubscribed funds.

On Monday, Ho Chi Minh City-based Mekong Capital said it had raised $246 million for its largest-ever fund - nearly 25% more than the original target of $200 million.

Dominic Scriven, chairman of Vietnamese asset manager Dragon Capital said a combination of the countrys trade deals, more cash in the economy and political stability had underpinned better-than-expected interest across three new funds launched by his firm.

We were very pleasantly surprised by the market uptake, said Scriven.

That extra cash, along with savings accounts offering declining interest rates after three cuts in the central banks policy rate since March, has created a surge in local stock market investors.

The number of new investors has increased so much that the benchmark Ho Chi Minh City Stock Exchange has been forced to halt afternoon trading in order to process the surge.

Development was also boosted by the two free trade deals signed last year: the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), the worlds largest trading block, and an agreement with Britain modelled on the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), which Vietnam ratified in June.

Hanoi also has bilateral trade deals with both South Korea and Japan, its largest sources of foreign direct investment, and is a signatory to the 11-country Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).

The trade deal push has given it an advantage over some of its regional competitors. The EVFTA in particular has put Vietnam clearly on the map, said Sven Schneider, Chief Executive of the EU-Malaysian Chamber of Commerce.

Malaysia, on the other hand, is only waking up to this missed opportunity now, said Schneider.

WHA Groups Jareeporn also said the EVFTA had given Vietnam an advantage. If an industry needs cheap labour, its definitely going to Vietnam, Jareeporn said.

In the short term, Vietnam is well placed to pull ahead of its regional rivals in 2021, just as it holds a massive Communist Party meeting to select a new leadership later this month.

Its safe, the government functions smoothly, and in face of impediments like COVID the country rises to the challenge without hesitation and wins, Chad Ovel, partner at Mekong Capital, said.

Vietnam has clearly earned its position as the most attractive investment destination in Southeast Asia.

Reporting by James Pearson; Additional reporting by Phuong Nguyen and Khanh Vu in Hanoi, Liz Lee in Kuala Lumpur and Chayut Setboonsarng and Orathai Sriring in Bangkok; Editing by Kenneth Maxwell

Read the original here:

Keeping coronavirus at bay, Vietnam revs up economy to race ahead of rivals - Reuters

Posted: Jan 6, 2021 / 02:07 PM EST / Updated: Jan 6, 2021 / 02:48 PM EST

RALEIGH, N.C. (FOX 46 CHARLOTTE) Gov. Roy Cooper and the Coronavirus Task Force will provide an update Wednesday afternoon on the states COVID-19 response as the next phase of vaccinations begin and as the states Modified Stay-at-Home order approaches its expiration date.

Tuesday, the governor announced that the N.C. National Guard would be helping with vaccine distribution as health officials admitted that the rollout is not going as expected.

Ensuring COVID-19 vaccines are administered quickly is our top priority right now, Cooper said. We will use all resources and personnel needed. Ive mobilized the NC National Guard to provide support to local health providers as we continue to increase the pace of vaccinations.

The announcement came as North Carolina begins to enter Phase 1B, making the vaccine available to people who are 75 years and older.

Governor Coopers Modified Stay-at-Home order is also set to expire at 5 p.m. Friday. Under the current order, restaurants must close at 10 p.m. and alcohol cannot be served past 9 p.m.

As of Wednesday, at least 582,348 cases and 7,076 deaths have been reported statewide. A record-high 3,893 patients are currently hospitalized.

The governors press conference is scheduled for 2 p.m. Wednesday. FOX 46 Charlotte will carry it live online and on air.

LATEST HEADLINES FROM FOX 46 CHARLOTTE

Link:

Gov. Cooper, N.C. Coronavirus Task Force to provide update on COVID-19 as new vaccination phase begins - WSPA 7News

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U.S. Rep. Kevin Brady, R-The Woodlands, has tested positive for the coronavirus, he said on Twitter on Tuesday evening.

Brady, a ranking member of the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee, said he will begin treatment Wednesday and should be fine. A spokesperson for Brady added Wednesday morning that the congressman has been practicing all guidelines laid out by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention including social distancing and wearing a mask and received a test as soon as he was experiencing COVID-19 symptoms.

The Republican lawmaker said he received his first injection of the coronavirus vaccine Dec. 18 and is scheduled to receive his second dose later this week. While Brady tested negative for the respiratory disease on New Years Day, experts say it takes a few weeks for the body to build immunity after being vaccinated and that getting sick before completing a two-dose regimen should not undermine the potency of the vaccine.

He has full confidence in the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine, a Brady spokesperson said in an email.

Brady, 65, is receiving outpatient treatment at Walter Reed Medical Center. It is unclear how he contracted the virus.

Earlier this week, U.S. Rep. Kay Granger, R-Fort Worth, a high-ranking member of Texas congressional delegation, tested positive for the coronavirus. She previously said she was asymptomatic and feeling great, and planned to remain under the care of her doctor.

Multiple state leaders have tested positive for the virus since the pandemic began. The first statewide elected official to publicly confirm a positive coronavirus test was Texas Supreme Court Justice Debra Lehrmann in May. Other state lawmakers, including Rep. Tony Tinderholt, Sen. Kel Seliger and outgoing House Speaker Dennis Bonnen have tested positive. Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller also tested positive in early December.

Continued here:

Texas Congressman Kevin Brady says hes tested positive for COVID-19 - The Texas Tribune

SPRING HILL Spring Hill resident Sharon Swanson has repeatedly called the Florida Department of Health in Hernando County to schedule an appointment for a COVID-19 vaccine. So far, she hasnt gotten through.

At 76, Swanson knows she is in a high-risk category for the disease, and she wants to be vaccinated as soon as possible.

But Swanson said she didnt expect that when the health department phone system buckled under the crush of calls, officials there would reach out to a gated community nearby, the Wellington at Seven Hills, to offer its residents hundreds of vaccine doses.

According to its website, the Wellington at Seven Hills is where discerning home buyers looking for the perfect 55 and up community can be pampered. It is home to Andrew Ingoglia, father of state Rep. Blaise Ingoglia, who previously headed up the Republican Party of Florida.

Health department officials explain their choice by saying they have an established relationship with the 1,100-home community. But, Swanson wondered, why should relationship count more than fairness?

Am I out of luck because I dont have connections to the health department? Swanson said.

When asked why the subdivision was chosen for the vaccines, Nina Mattei, the Florida Department of Health in Hernando Countys preparedness and emergency planner, said, Wellingtons management team and community emergency response team expressed an early willingness to support a point to dispense vaccinations.

We selected Wellington for their ability to help organize and run this vaccination outreach as well as having a large population of adults age 65 and over.

Paul Douglas also questions the choice. As president of the Hernando County chapter of the NAACP, he said Black ministers in South Brooksville have asked for a vaccine clinic in their area, but health officials said that wasnt how vaccines would be distributed, and that they were already depleted.

The way that they are approaching this is not surprising, Douglas said, noting that leaving out the concerns of minority residents is business as usual in Hernando County.

Hernando County commissioners have already begun to hear from constituents, asking why an affluent community like the Wellington should get to go first. But Commission Chairman John Allocco said he has explained the decision was not the countys to make, since the health department is a state agency.

I have no idea why they picked the Wellington, Allocco said. Hernando County had absolutely zero to do with which community this was given to.

County fire rescue workers will administer vaccines to the Wellington residents in the coming days, Allocco said. The commission approved offering that assistance, as well as future help with phone lines and appointments.

The Wellington at Seven Hills will receive 648 vaccine doses, out of the 2,000 the health department had initially received. The health department received another 800 doses this week, and additional doses will go to people by appointment.

Former Brooksville Mayor Joe Bernardini said he has been irked by the lack of vaccine planning at all levels of government. Its amazing to me that no one was prepared for it,' he said, adding, its amazing that a community can plan better than the health department.

Jay Wolfson, professor of public health for the University of South Florida, said he is not surprised at the uneven launch of vaccinations. Not only have health departments across the state seen diminishing resources, but COVID-19 has been an unpredictable enemy. The precautions needed to protect against it becoming a political bargaining chip havent helped matters, he said.

Were in this together, and it is a team sport even though were being told that were working against each other, Wolfson said. Covid is the enemy here, and to defeat it we have to use discipline, respect for one another and common sense.

HOW CORONAVIRUS IS SPREADING IN FLORIDA: Find the latest numbers for your county, city or zip code.

VACCINES Q & A: Have coronavirus vaccine questions? We have answers, Florida.

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In Hernando, a gated community gets some of the first coronavirus vaccine doses - Tampa Bay Times

Tommy John has had COVID-19 for at least three weeks, but the former pitching great disputes reports that he is a coronavirus denier.

"I'm not a denier. I've had it, baby,'' John said during a telephone interview with The Associated Press on Wednesday.

The 77-year-old John remained hospitalized near his home in Indio, California. He said he started to feel ill following a trip to Nashville, Tennessee, before he was hospitalized on Dec. 13.

John said he has had a bout of pneumonia and did receive oxygen but is not presently on oxygen. He said the biggest side effect is he has no strength in his legs. As far as some of the other symptoms associated with COVID-19, such as loss of taste or smell, John said he hasn't experienced those.

"I feel good. The only thing right now is trying to arrange for someone to do physical therapy from my home,'' he said.

John pitched for six teams over a 26-year career from 1963 to 1989. He is widely known for undergoing the groundbreaking ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction surgery on his left elbow in 1974 that bears his name. He went on to win 20 games three times, once with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1977 and twice with the New York Yankees (1979-80).

While John is not denying the coronavirus, his son has been more outspoken. Tommy John III, a chiropractor who lives in San Diego, has taken to social media, saying that "this was never a pandemic.''

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Former pitching great Tommy John hospitalized with COVID-19 - ESPN