COVID-19 Crisis Continues

 

The City of San Angelo reported three new COVID-19 deaths, 237 deaths to date  On November 2nd there had been 91 coronavirus deaths.

Positive tests increased from 5,076 on November 2nd to 14,305.  Currently hospitalized rose from 38 in early November to 106 patients as of today.  Total hospitalizations went from 700 to nearly 1,600 over that period..

Shopping in Walmart and Sam's Club this week I encountered a number of people without facemasks.  I was struck by their lack of respect for senior shoppers at greater risk for serious disease, even death.

At City Council Mayor Gunter cited a large number of deaths in the last week (12) and she encouraged people to get tested and seek treatment early if citizens have any symptoms.  Council did not hear from public health emergency staff about their response and actions/funding needed for improvements.  They did hear an item to support people struggling economically due to the pandemic.    The alarm bell is not audible from City Council members other than the Mayor.

The crisis continues given our 27% test positivity rate and the revelation that new variants have been found elsewhere in our country that are more efficient in spreading from one person to another. 

Consider the progression of COVID-19 from studies:

• The first symptoms begin from two to 14 days after you have been exposed to the virus. A new study from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health suggests a median time of about five days.
• The average duration of fever was 12 days. Ninety-nine percent of the patients studied had a fever. About 50% felt fatigued and had a dry cough, with 33% having difficulty breathing and complaining of muscle pain.
• The study showed that 85% of those with the virus only experience “phase one” of the virus’s course. Phase one encompasses the first seven days of symptoms (see below). Those with more critical cases of COVID-19 went on to suffer more severe symptoms that last for two more weeks, on average.
• Age is a strong risk factor for severe illness, complications and death
• For those who do not survive the virus, the average number of days from onset of symptoms until death is 18 1/2 days.
  

Citizens could be developing symptoms now from exposure over the New Year holiday.  Those that perish from the disease could do so the end of this month.   This progression is important to understand.  Mayor Gunter continues to stress our medical community has medicines that can change the course of COVID-19 for citizens.  That word should be spread far and wide.   

Update 1-17-21:  With five more deaths reported today the total is now 250.   The New Year began with 211.  We've had 39 deaths reported in seventeen days.

Update 1-25-21:  Texas deals with high hospitalizations and hundreds of daily deaths from COVID-19

Update 2-1-21:  COVID-19 related deaths for January totaled 64.  There have been 275 deaths reported by the City Health Department since the pandemic began.

Update 8-26-21:  The Delta variant of COVID-19 hit San Angelo in July and is running through our community, hitting citizens of all ages.  Deaths rose greatly in the last week.  Local Health Official Dr. James Vretis ordered people to wear masks in schools.  The order starts today and runs until October 15th.