Active cases of COVID-19 rise to 108 in county

There were 103 new COVID-19 cases reported in Gonzales County from Wednesday, Dec. 9 to Wednesday, Dec. 16, bringing the total active cases to 108.

In total, there have been 1,498 confirmed cases, according to daily updates from County Judge Patrick C. Davis. Of these, 1,380 are considered recovered with 10 deaths reported.

Department of State Health Services Data also shows that hospitalizations of lab-confirmed COVID-19 in Trauma Service Area P, which Gonzales County is included in, in proportion to the total hospital capacity is 14.11% as of Wednesday, Dec. 16.

The executive order from Texas Governor Greg Abbott which allows bars to remain open at 50% operation capacity, and other businesses at 75% operation capacity states that hospitalizations must be below 15% capacity to do so. If hospitalizations exceed 15% for seven consecutive days, counties within that TSA will not qualify to opt-in to the order.

Cases continue to be reported on district websites in Nixon-Smiley Consolidated Independent School District and Gonzales Independent School District, but Waelder Independent School District has not updated its website detailing case counts since the district went on its extended winter break Nov. 20. In NSCISD, there are six active cases and in GISD, there are 17, as of Dec. 17.