Two new COVID deaths reported

The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) announced Monday afternoon that two new deaths had been attributed to COVID-19 in Bandera County, both of which were the first attributed to occurrences in 2022.

This brings the total death count in the county since the start of the pandemic to 67.

According to DSHS, there were 110 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 and another 45 probable cases since last week, bringing 2022’s total count to 379 and 108 respectively.

Since the start of the pandemic, there have been 2,253 cases of COVID-19 and 894 probable cases.

As reported last week, DSHS is no longer reporting active COVID-19 case counts.

Peterson Health reported last week that 36 people are hospitalized with COVID-19, seven of which are in the ICU.

Vaccination clinics from Vaccinate Bandera continue into next month, with vaccines available free of charge at today’s food distribution at Mansfield Park from 10 a.m. to noon today, January 26.

Future clinics are scheduled for ages 12 and up on February 3 at Lakehills United Methodist Church from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and for ages five and up at the Silver Sage on February 7 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Pfizer, Moderna, and booster shots are available at these clinics and no ID or insurance is required.

More information is available at VaccinateBandera.org or by calling 833-882-2246.

As of Monday, DSHS says the county’s vaccination rate stands at 51.46 of ages five and up have received one dose, and 44.7 percent of that same age group are fully vaccinated.