San Antonio’s Third Travel-Related Coronavirus Positive Case Confirmed
March 15, 2020 - San Antonio
When Irish Eyes are Social Distancing. Two days before St. Patrick’s Day, retailers anticipate low sales on holiday party items amid the confirmation of San Antonio’s third travel-related COVID-19 case. Photo: Jade Esteban Estrada.
By Jade Esteban Estrada - Staff Writer, San Antonio Sentinel
Late Sunday afternoon, the City of San Antonio confirmed its third travel-related coronavirus case. The individual, whose contact history is being investigated, recently traveled to Spain. This brings the number of travel-related COVID-19 cases in San Antonio to three.
With this new case, a survey of the recent events that have occurred across the Atlantic Ocean seems relevant.
After Italy, Spain has the second-highest number of COVID-19 infections on the European continent. On March 15, it reported 7,753 coronavirus cases and 288 deaths. The Spanish government imposed a partial lockdown on Saturday in an effort to slacken the spread of the growing pandemic.
The second patient who tested positive for the COVID-19 virus had recently crossed the Pacific Ocean after a visit to Japan, which, on Sunday night, reported a total of 780 coronavirus cases and 22 deaths.
The travel history of the city’s first case, which was confirmed Thursday night, has not yet been disclosed.
People who may have recently interacted with these newly diagnosed individuals will receive a notification from San Antonio Metropolitan Health District.
“We are working to contain the spread,” said Metro Health Director Dawn Emerick. “Our community can help minimize the spread of the virus by practicing good hygiene habits, social distancing and staying home if they are sick.”
On Friday, San Antonio Mayor Ron NIrenberg issued a second public health emergency declaration that is scheduled to expire after seven days. This issuance prohibits gatherings of 500 or more; recommends canceling gatherings of 250 or more; and strongly suggests canceling gatherings with high-risk populations, which is currently defined as citizens 60 years and older, people with health conditions like heart disease, lung disease, diabetes, kidney disease and those with a compromised immune system. This most-at-risk group also includes those who are pregnant or were pregnant within the last two weeks and individuals who are experiencing homelessness.
Following this news conference, many public events were subsequently canceled or postponed. San Antonio’s signature event, Fiesta, will now take place November 5-15.
All area public independent school districts and colleges and universities will be closed from March 16-20.
Nirenberg is encouraging residents to practice “social distancing,” a term originated by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. This means avoiding crowds and gatherings, calling off non-essential travel, and generally keeping one’s distance from other people whenever possible - six feet has been the circulating recommendation - in an effort to minimize the chances of possible exposure.
“If you’re feeling sick, stay home and call your doctor,” the mayor said via Facebook. “They’ll be able to provide the next best steps. Avoid immediately going to the emergency room to limit exposure to our healthcare professionals. We need all of our facilities operating at full strength.”
City Council will meet this week to determine whether to extend the emergency declaration for 30 days.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott held a press conference on Friday declaring a statewide public health disaster. In his speech, he also noted that the City of San Antonio will be launching Texas’ first-ever drive-through testing facility which would be immediately available for frontline health care workers and emergency personnel.
“As testing capacity has increased, we are getting clearer and more rapid assessment of any potential occurrence of travel-related infections, said Nirenberg in a statement. “This will continue to increase the effectiveness of our efforts to get our community through this pandemic safely.”
On March 15, the Texas Department of State Health Services reported 56 COVID-19 cases in Texas. Photo: Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
The updated COVID-19 testing criteria, which has been approved by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is as follows:
1. A patient should be tested if they have a fever or show signs or symptoms of lower respiratory illness such as cough or shortness of breath and they have had close contact with a laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 case within 14 days of symptom onset.
2. A patient should be tested if they have a fever or show signs or symptoms of a lower respiratory illness and significant respiratory illness and they are a health care worker and first responder who has had close contact with a strongly suspected COVID-19 patient within 14 days of the symptom onset.
3. A patient should be tested if they have a fever and show signs or symptoms of a lower respiratory illness and other significant respiratory illnesses have been excluded (such as the flu); and the patient has risk factors that puts the individual at high risk or poor outcomes or is a health care worker or first responder.
4. A patient should be tested if they demonstrate severe acute respiratory illness (such as pneumonia or acute respiratory distress syndrome), which requires hospitalization and has a negative flu diagnosis and no source of COVID-19 exposure has been identified or is a health care worker or first responder.
“We will get through this,” said Nirenberg on Friday. “San Antonio is a resilient city. It’s a city where we get things done through teamwork.”
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.