Local COVID-19 Case Count Jumps to 157; Virus Can Live on Plastic Surfaces for 72 Hours
March 29, 2020 - San Antonio
Plastic cups and the three-day rule. On Sunday, Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff said that COVID-19 is able to stay active on plastic surfaces for 72 hours. Photo: Jade Esteban Estrada.
By Jade Esteban Estrada - Staff Writer, San Antonio Sentinel
Sunday evening, Mayor Ron Nirenberg reported that the number of confirmed coronavirus cases increased by 17; San Antonio now has a total of 157 infections. For a third full day, the death toll remains at five. Also, Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff shared more detailed information about COVID-19: The virus, according to officials at Bexar County Hospital, is able to live on plastic surfaces for up to 72 hours.
Of the 157 cases, 61 are linked to travel. The number of cases that are community spread - which means it is not known where the patient came in contact with the virus - is 55. Nirenberg believes that this growing number drives home the point that residents must practice social distancing in order to minimize the possibility of exposure to the virus as people who are COVID-19 positive can appear healthy-looking and be asymptomatic.
There are now 21 patients who have contracted the virus through close contact with a person who was already infected; an example of this is a parent-to-child transmission.
Among the 35 currently being hospitalized, a dozen are in intensive care and eleven are on ventilators. Yesterday, there were nine coronavirus patients on ventilators. There is a concern among health experts that the number of ventilators on hand may be insufficient if the rate of COVID-19 patients who need to be hospitalized continues to increase.
“This is a clear call for vigilance,” said Nirenberg, who has warned the public several times that the next few weeks would be an emotional and economic challenge.
The City had uploaded a resident assistance page to their website for those who are unable to work because of the Stay Home, Work Safe order. Information on where people can obtain food, where students can get meals, help for pregnant women and mothers of small children who need money for food, and also, where seniors can find information about the Meals on Wheels program are listed on the site.
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Additionally, there is housing information for people who are struggling to pay their rent, as well as resources for those who are unable to pay their electric or water bill.
For businesses who are considered essential, the mayor continues to advise employees to remain six-feet apart from each other at all times. Employers should provide cleaning supplies and regularly clean utilized surfaces. They are also ordered to make hand sanitizers and a place to wash hands with soap and hot water readily available.
“Ignoring social distancing measures is a violation of the law and an affront to all those working on the front lines of this battle,” said San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg. “They are working hard to keep you and your loved ones alive.” Photo: Jade Esteban Estrada.
Employees who may observe that their place of work is not adhering to these guidelines are asked to report the violation to the San Antonio Police Department’s non-emergency hotline at (210) 207-SAPD. So far, 476 violations have been reviewed by code compliance inspectors, but because businesses have agreed to comply with the health orders, no citations have been given.
Over the last week, the SAPD has received 670 calls on their hotline. Some of those calls, have been about activities in City and County parks.
“We have observed [people] congregating in our public parks this weekend," said Nirenberg. "That’s not good. That’s not allowed. You should go out and get fresh air but congregating in parks is not permitted.” He added that if social distancing did not improve, the City would take stricter measures by closing the parks entirely.
“Ignoring social distancing measures is a violation of the law and an affront to all those working on the front lines of this battle,” he said. “They are working hard to keep you and your loved ones alive.”
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Wolff said he had spoken to officials at Bexar County Hospital earlier that day.
He said that when COVID-19 lands on a surface, it will decay, but how quickly it becomes inactive depends on the humidity, temperature and the type of surface in question.
If the virus lands on fabric, such as a blouse or shirt - it can take three hours to decay. If it makes contact with copper or wood, it takes four hours to become inactive. "If it’s on cardboard, it takes 24 hours," he said. On metal, the virus can survive for 42 hours. Plastic, 72 hours. "So you see it can last there a long, long time," Wolff said. "So be sure and clean those surfaces.”
He also reminded viewers that antibiotics will not kill the coronavirus.
“It is not a bacteria, but a protein molecule," he explained. "However, it can be destroyed with soap and hot water," adding that hand washing fluids must have a 65% alcohol component to be effective.
Wolff also said that the coronavirus continues to live longer where there is moisture.
"To destroy it, dehumidify your homes," he advised in an upbeat manner. "If you can stay dry, warm and in a bright environment, that helps a great deal."
“We’re going to win this war against COVID,” he said.
On the federal level, President Donald J. Trump announced today that he would be extending the recommended social distancing guidelines through April 30.
Jade Esteban Estrada is a staff writer at the San Antonio Sentinel, where he covers public health and other citywide issues. He can be reached at jade@sasentinel.com.