COVID cases decrease

There were eight new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Bandera County from June 17-23, according to Bandera County Emergency Management.

That number is down from the previous week’s 18 new confirmed cases.

Statewide The number of new COVID-19 cases reported by the Coronavirus Resource Center at Johns Hopkins University rose once, with 61,682 reported — up 28 percent from the previous week.

However, deaths dropped sharply to 66 last week.

The number of lab-confirmed COVID-19 cases in Texas hospitals rose to 2,055, up 17.6 percent from the previous week, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS).

DSHS reports there have been 2,652 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the county since 2020 and 1,106 probable cases.

DSHS’ death count, which includes data from death certificates citing both confirmed and probable cases, remains at 77.

Vaccination efforts continue throughout the county from the grant-funded Vaccinate Bandera.

Vaccinate Bandera officials say the latest phase of their outreach is a one-year program focusing on outreach and education of the Hispanic community and families with children ages five and up.