Mayor Nirenberg and Judge Wolff Launch Daily Briefings; 120 Coronavirus Cases Reported
March 28, 2020 - San Antonio
A park reality. Friday night, City and County officials closed park amenities, such as basketball courts, outdoor exercise equipment, playgrounds, skate plazas and splash pads, for the duration of the Stay Home, Work Safe order. Photo: Jade Esteban Estrada.
By Jade Esteban Estrada - Staff Writer, San Antonio Sentinel
San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg and Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff held a news briefing Friday night to report that the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the area has risen to 120. Both officials expect to see a spike in that figure because of the increase in COVID-19 testing in both the public and private sectors. The death toll remains at five.
In an effort to keep the community informed on how the current health crisis is affecting San Antonio, Nirenberg and Wolff announced that they will begin providing a daily televised analysis of the latest developments regarding COVID-19. Last night was the first of these updates; they will henceforth be recorded live from Plaza de Armas beginning shortly after 6 p.m. via Facebook Live.
Of the 120 infections in San Antonio, 33 people are currently being hospitalized, reported Nirenberg. This is the first time this information has been released to the public.
“We don’t want to alarm you because 33 people are in hospital, we just want to reassure you [that] we are prepared,” said Wolff.
Updates on this number will appear on the San Antonio Metropolitan Heath District's COVID-19 information page, which is updated daily. The remaining people who have been diagnosed with the coronavirus are recovering at home, according to officials.
The aforementioned case count does not include the Princess cruise ship evacuees who remain federally quarantined at Lackland Air Force Base.
UPDATE ON PARK AMENITIES
“Allowed activities” in the Stay Home, Work Safe directive, such as cycling and jogging, have served as a daily respite for those under the self-isolation mandate. However, government officials have observed that a number of people seem to be taking the threat of COVID-19 lightly, and appear to be going about their daily routines with few precautions. Reports of citizens gathering in parks in uncomfortable numbers, and in close proximity with one another, concerned the mayor enough to take immediate action. Last night, Nirenberg and Wolff announced that City and County park amenities, such as basketball courts, outdoor exercise equipment, playgrounds, skate plazas and splash pads, would be closed for the duration of the public health emergency order. The declaration is in effect until April 9.
“We see many people outdoors, and that’s great,” said Wolff. “But if you’re playing pick-up basketball, or [participating in] a group run or playing in a packed playground, that defeats the purpose of the order. The virus is easily transmitted.”
"This virus does not discriminate," Nirenberg said via Facebook. "You're not invincible simply because you're young."
RELATED: City Officials Announce Third COVID-19 Related Death in San Antonio
For some residents, social distancing and self-isolation has been a challenge. San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg has described these measures as “short-term pain in exchange for long-term benefit.” Woodlawn Lake Park. Photo: Jade Esteban Estrada.
In the current total of confirmed cases, 47 have been classified as related to travel, 19 are close-contact cases, and 42 infections have been identified as community transmission. Although testing has increased, the demographics of people who have been tested has been, at best, patchy in the absence of expansive access to testing. A doctor's referral is needed in order to be tested and individuals who are sick and are not seeking medical attention may be contributing to the growing number of community-spread cases.
A dozen cases are still under investigation.
On the national level, John Hopkins University's Coronavirus Resource Center reports 104,837 confirmed COVID-19 cases on American soil, which means the U.S. now has more cases than any other country, ahead of Italy, China and Spain, respectively.
RELATED: Mayor Nirenberg and Judge Wolff Issue Stay Home, Work Safe Orders Amid Coronavirus Crisis
"I can’t say this in any more certain terms than this: Stay home. Stay safe. Stay healthy and save lives,” said Nirenberg in closing.
The two leaders will deliver a new update tonight around 6 p.m. via Facebook Live.
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.