(Seguin) — State and local officials, for almost a year and a half, have been providing regular updates on the battle against the COVID-19 pandemic. The updates have included details about the case counts, hospitalizations, deaths, and the number of vaccinations. These numbers have been closely watched for months, but as things continue to return to normal, officials say these regular COVID-19 updates are coming to an end.
Guadalupe County Emergency Manager Coordinator Patrick Pinder has been the county’s point person when it comes to information on COVID-19. Pinder says this week’s update, from the state, will be the last issued unless something changes dramatically.
“The (Texas) Department of State Health Services notified the emergency management office that the information that we put out today was going to be the last information that they would be providing to our departments. Across the region, Region 8, which is part of our state health services region that we follow — they have gotten to the point where they are no longer going to continue to send out updates on the COVID numbers. The current numbers that we put out on the COVID active cases and recovered cases will be the last update that will be given to the public and given to the community,” said Pinder.
Pinder says the decision is tied to the fact that cases here locally, as well as across the state, are largely dropping. He says that means there is less need for the updates to be provided.
“Throughout many of the communities, they have no cases. Some have a few higher (numbers) than others in some of the larger cities. But a lot of our other smaller communities and things like that are beginning to see those decreased numbers in their jurisdictions,” said Pinder.
The numbers have been dropping across the state. That decrease in the case count is, at least, partially due to the fact that a significant number of people have been vaccinated against the disease. Moderna, Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson all produced versions of the COVID-19 vaccine. All three versions were available at various times in Guadalupe County. Pinder says they administered thousands of doses at mass vaccination clinics here in Seguin and in Schertz. He says those clinics are no longer necessary, but there are still COVID-19 shots available for those who want them.
“The process with the larger scale clinics have ceased. We will no longer have any mass vaccination clinics. We were seeing that a lot of the population either had the vaccine — any one of the three COVID vaccines, or they were no longer seeking that vaccine, or they just didn’t feel like they needed to get that vaccine. That’s one of the reasons why a lot of the the communities are seeing these descreased numbers, is because those folks are either being cautious or the mask wearing and things like that — (you are) doing those kinds of things on your own. You’ll do all of that, and you’ll wash your hands. You’re just taking those general precautions on your own, and a lot of it is self-accountability and folks are taking care of that. The biggest thing was those people that needed the vaccine or wanted the vaccine. They went out and got it. And I think that’s one of the reasons why we are seeing these decreased numbers,” said Pinder.
Most of the early doses of the vaccine went into the arms of people 18-and-older. Pinder says as the Pfizer vaccine was authorized for use in patients 12-and-up, it allowed even more people to be vaccinated. He says the county has done a pretty good job making sure they are protecting those who are most vulnerable to the disease.
“When the Pfizer vaccine opened up to those 12-years-and older, (it helped). We are seeing — in that population — you’ve got about 45 percent of 12-year-olds and older (vaccinated). The parents have allowed those children to get that vaccine. And at the 65-and-older (population), we had about 68 percent of the community that’s currently vaccinated. So overall, we are sitting in the county at around 44 percent of the (overall) poopulation vaccinated, which is really good to see,” said Pinder.
Guadalupe County has administered 126,580 doses of vaccine. That includes 29,466 people who have received at least one dose, and 63,891 people who have been fully vaccinated. Pinder says even though they are not offering the mass vaccine sites, he says there are still many local locations where people can get their shot, including doctor’s offices and pharmacies.
This final COVID-19 update states that the county currently has 173 active cases. Since the count began last year, Guadalupe County has had 15,567 positive cases, with 15,219 people who have recovered from the virus. There were a total of 246 COVID-19 related deaths recorded here in Guadalupe County.
Pinder says they will no longer be providing the regular updates, but he says they will still be a resource for people who need them. He says questions regarding COVID-19, can be emailed to COVID19@co.guadalupe.tx.us.