(Seguin) — The COVID-19 numbers continue to rise here locally. Both the case count and the hospitalization rate remains high across Seguin and Guadalupe County.
Seguin City Manager Steve Parker provided an update to the city council during its meeting on Tuesday night. Parker says the numbers across much the state are also surging. He says best way to fight against the spread is for people to get vaccinated. It’s an issue that has become highly politicized, but Parker says the local data shows that the shots work. It doesn’t mean that you will not get the virus, but it clearly shows that you definitely improve your chances of not getting sick and not dying from COVID-19.
“Talking to the medical professionals in the area, there is still a real saving grace of keeping people out of the hospital. They are not seeing people react from getting the vaccine. They are seeing people who are not getting the vaccine get really really sick and end up in the hospital and we are seeing a tremendous amount of deaths. I think (Pastor) Roy said he had 65 people in their hospital as well. Those are staggering numbers. Anywhere from 88 to 96 percent of people that are in the hospital are unvaccinated,” said Parker.
The COVID-19 battle is taking a toll on healthcare workers, who again find themselves on the front lines of this crisis. Councilman Jeremy Roy, who also serves as chaplain and director of pastoral care at Resolute Health Hospital in New Braunfels, says it has been a challenge. He shared a story about how people have tried to show their support for the difficult work that they are doing, and he says that certainly helps. Roy says that he hopes more people will offer encouraging words to those on the COVID front lines.
“I work at Resolute Health Hospital in New Braunfels, Texas and just yesterday, one of the churches in town Oakwood Baptist Church came and just stood around our building and prayed for nurses and doctors. We are going through so much right now as hospitals and I know GRMC is also under the same stress and it is so wonderful to get support like that. If you know a nurse or a doctor or even an old fat chaplain or two, just let them know that you care about them. Encourage them. They are doing such incredible, beautiful work right now. The hospitals are so so full. But, just any encouraging word to a nurse or to a doctor, anyone in healthcare, is so appreciated and just pray for GRMC. We’ve got a wonderful hospital here. It is run well and they are working hard, working hard. Let’s encourage them,” said Roy.
Guadalupe County emergency management officials recently teamed up with the National Guard to host several vaccination clinics. The clinics were held last week in Schertz, Seguin and New Berlin.
The most successful of those clinics was last Saturday in Seguin at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church, where 133 people got vaccinated. Parker thanked local resident Eddie Davila for again helping to set up that clinic, which also offered free backpacks to kids who stopped by. Vaccinations are available at pharmacies and doctors offices throughout the area. People as young as 12-years old can get the vaccine. Right now about 50 percent of the eligible population in Guadalupe County is vaccinated.