(Seguin) — Guadalupe County is sharing the latest numbers and updates on COVID-19. The update was provided Tuesday to members of the Guadalupe County Commissioners Court.
Patrick Pinder, the Guadalupe County emergency management coordinator, says the number of positive cases over the last couple of weeks has finally been updated. The number of active cases in the county has increased to 206. Two weeks ago, that number was at 110. The number of hospitalizations last week was also reportedly six. Today, that number is three.
Pinder says the number of people who have lost their lives since the start of COVID-19 has also gone up in the county. He says the number of deaths now stands at 238. That’s up from the last report of 229 deaths.
Pinder says the fight against the virus continues with its next vaccine clinic scheduled for this Thursday.
“We do have a second dose clinic this Thursday. That clinic was scheduled to be a drive thru. That has changed. With the unpredictability of the weather right now this week, that will be a inside clinic in the Coliseum. We will still offer an accessibility option just don’t know where that will be set up. So, for those folks that have concerns for this week’s clinic, it will be inside but we will have some available options to still continue to get that shot from the car,” said Pinder.
Pinder also reported the latest numbers of those getting vaccinated in Guadalupe County.
“(A total of) 43.22 percent of 12 years olds have been vaccinated with one dose — 35.26 percent of the 12 year olds have been fully vaccinated so those are 12 to 18 — 69 percent of the 65 and older have had one shot and 60 percent of the 65 and older have been fully vaccinated in the county. The total population that has been vaccinated is 16.74 percent. That number has actually gone down in two weeks. People are getting their first shot, but they are not getting their second shot so the number has to catch up a bit so that’s one of the reasons why that’s gone down a little bit. The overall number of vaccinations in the state has also gone down. It was at 49.46 and now it’s at .45 so it’s just a little off. We just got to get those first and second doses to catch up with each other and those numbers should go back up,” said Pinder.
Pinder says now that younger folks are eligible to receive the Pfizer vaccine, the county is helping to promote this weekend’s shot clinic at a local church.
“We have a second dose clinic, Our Lady of Guadalupe — we have a Pfizer clinic that will be helping out at on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The intent is to get kids 12 and older and anybody else who wants the Pfizer vaccine the option to get the Pfizer vaccine. We have 350 doses available. Once we run out of the 350, we will be using the Moderna shot so it is a walk-up clinic, but we do encourage people to sign-up if your intent is to get the Pfizer vaccine, go to the city of Seguin website and sign yourself up. That guarantees you the Pfizer shot. If we go over the 350 doses that we have, we will unfortunately, have to give you the Moderna shot so that eliminates the 12 to 18 year olds. So, you have to be 18 and older to get the Moderna. If you are looking for that Pfizer shot, and you are under 18, make sure you sign-up through the city’s website,” said Pinder.
Pinder says like most folks around the state, Guadalupe County is working to transition out of the vaccine clinic business. “We’ve got a couple other second dose clinics the week after. I think I have eight more clinics and then we are looking at transitioning this over to pharmacies, doctor offices, the county is trying to assist right now. A lot of other jurisdictions have put a deadline on their shot clinics. Schertz, I think the 15th, they will be done doing shot clinics. Comal County Public Health is fixing to be done doing shot clinics so we are going to transition just like all the other jurisdictions and let the pharmacies, the doctors’ offices transition into those and be the primary site on that and we’ll just step in on a secondary role. If we see a need, that we can step back in and assist but that’s our focus right now is to just make sure that we finish our second doses that we need to finish and then we’ll transition out of the shot clinic and get back to doing other emergency management (things) here in the county,” said Pinder.
Anyone with questions regarding COVID-19 are asked to email COVID19@co.guadalupe.tx.us.
Those inquiring about vaccines, may call 1-844-908-3927. Hit option 1 if needing a vaccine for homebound residents or option 3 for businesses and/or organizations seeking the vaccine at their respective locations.
To sign up for Saturday’s vaccine clinic at OLG visit seguintexas.gov.