Local vaccine supply has been used

The Gonzales Healthcare System released a statement Monday, Jan. 18, which said it had no remaining doses of COVID-19 vaccine.

“Gonzales Healthcare Systems/Sievers Medical Clinic currently has no first dose COVID-19 vaccine available for the week of Jan. 18,” the statement reads. “Furthermore, we do not have any dates for future first dose shipments.”

It is unclear when providers will be allocated more vaccine for first doses, as the state is focusing distribution on large cities with providers who can vaccinate 100,000 or more.

Reported cases of COVID-19 in Gonzales County have increased to 1,962 since the virus was first reported in April of 2020.

There are 871 people who have received at least the first dose of the two-shot Moderna vaccine, with 13 being fully vaccinated. County providers have so far been allocated 1,200 doses of the vaccine.

There were 125 active cases of COVID-19 in the county as of Tuesday, Jan. 19, with 1,827 recovered and 10 deaths reported, according to daily reports shared by Gonzales County Judge Patrick C. Davis. Between Tuesday, Jan. 12 and Tuesday, Jan. 19, 136 new cases were reported, with a large spike in reporting— 80 cases— on Wednesday, Jan. 13.

Hospitalizations continue to be on the rise in Trauma Service Area P, which includes Gonzales County. Lab-confirmed cases of COVID-19 made up 23.61% of total hospital capacity as of Tuesday, Jan. 19. This marks the third week of high hospitalizations, mandating bar closures and the reduction of operation capacity to 50% for most retail businesses and restaurants under Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s Executive Order GA-32.

As of Wednesday, Jan. 20, there were 17 active cases of COVID-19 reported in Gonzales Independent School District, seven in Nixon-Smiley Consolidated Independent School District, and 3 in Waelder Independent School District.

Gonzales ISD has also announced that it will no longer use Robocalls to communicate COVID-19 cases to parents. These reports will be available on the district’s website and Facebook page.