Fifteen New COVID-19 Cases, 21 Recoveries Reported in Comal County Friday

Comal County reported 15 additional cases of COVID-19 today, bringing the total to 10,765.

Eight are confirmed cases and seven are probable cases.

There are now 272 active, confirmed-and-probable cases of the virus in Comal County. Of those, nine are hospitalized.

Another 21 COVID-19 recoveries were reported. The total recovered is 10,172.

The seven-day molecular positivity rate for Thursday is 5.39%. The seven-day antigen positivity rate is 3.99%. The Trauma Service Area (TSA) P percentage is 2.84%.

On Friday, Comal County hospitals reported caring for 11 COVID-19 patients. Of those, six are in intensive care and three are on ventilators. Not all of these patients are necessarily county residents. Not all county residents hospitalized with COVID-19 are in county hospitals.

Location Breakdown of New Cases

• New Braunfels – 10
• North of Canyon Lake – 1
• South of Canyon Lake – 1
• South Comal County (Garden Ridge) – 0
• Bulverde/Spring Branch – 3
• Fair Oaks – 0

Age Range of New Cases

• Under 20 – 3
• 20s – 2
• 30’s/40’s – 7
• 50s/60s – 2
• 70 and older -1

Testing Information

As of Friday morning, Public Health reports

• 96,079 tests conducted
• 5,748 confirmed cases
• 4,993 probable cases
• 24 suspect cases

Location Breakdown of All Cases

Of the 10,765 confirmed-and-probable COVID-19 cases, the location breakdown is:

• New Braunfels (includes Eastern and Central Comal) – 7,638
• Western Comal County (includes Bulverde and Spring Branch) – 1,570
• South of Canyon Lake – 612
• North of Canyon Lake – 509
• Southern Comal County (includes Garden Ridge and Schertz) –383
• Fair Oaks Ranch – 53

Vaccines

The Public Health Department administers the Moderna vaccine, which is used for those 18 years-of-age and older. Vaccines will be distributed to the public as they are received by Comal County and according to all state distribution guidelines.

To schedule a vaccine, call Public health at 830-221-1150.

Probable Cases

“Probable case” is a category established by the Texas Department of State Health Services to describe those who do not have a positive PCR test for COVID-19 but meet two of the three criteria:

• Meets clinical criteria and epidemiologic linkage with no confirmatory laboratory testing performed for SARS-CoV-2.
• Meets presumptive laboratory evidence, which is the detection of SARS-CoV-2 by antigen test in a respiratory specimen.
• Meets vital records criteria with no confirmatory laboratory evidence for SARS-CoV-2.

A probable case is treated identically to a confirmed case and counts toward the county’s positivity rate and total case tally.

Suspected Cases

A ‘suspect’ case meets supportive laboratory evidence with no prior history of being a confirmed or probable case. It is also counted toward the total case tally. Supportive laboratory evidence means:

• • Detection of a specific antibody in serum, plasma, or whole blood.
  • Detection of specific antigen by immunocytochemistry in an autopsy specimen.