Weekly Amarillo COVID-19 update notes 1 new death, 604 active cases

From Staff Reports
·3 min read

The Amarillo Department of Public Health (APHD) noted one new death related to the coronavirus and 604 cases of COVID-19 currently active for the week of March 30-April 5.

According to the Amarillo Department of Public Health's weekly COVID-19 report card, there were 177 new cases, with the overall total rising to 91,203 COVID-19 cases, 604 total active cases, a seven-day positivity rate of 9% and 1,340 deaths.

The weekly report is available at www.AmarilloAlerts.com/reportcard. The report also notes the status of local hospital capacity, based on data from BSA Health System, Northwest Texas Healthcare System, and Thomas E. Creek VA Medical Center. According to the report, 654 total hospital beds are currently occupied, an increase from the previous week, with 116 total beds occupied in the ICU and 18 ventilators in use. These numbers include patients with and without COVID-19.

The COVID-19 report card for March 30-April 5, issued by the Amarillo Department of Public Health.
The COVID-19 report card for March 30-April 5, issued by the Amarillo Department of Public Health.

According to the health department's website, there have been a total of 698,318 tests administered locally since the beginning of the pandemic. Potter County's total cases since the start of the pandemic rose to 43,781, with 789 deaths related to the virus. Randall County's total COVID-19 cases since the start of the pandemic rose to 47,442, with 551 deaths related to the virus, according to the site Friday.

The website also noted eight COVID-19 patients were hospitalized, with seven in the ICU and none on ventilators. In Amarillo school numbers, a total of 31 cases were reported over the past 14 days, according to the site.

Protect yourself as previous immunity wanes

APHD notes that staying up-to-date on Covid vaccines and boosters helps to protect individuals as previous immunity wanes and the virus evolves. Individuals can develop immunity against Covid after getting a vaccine or recovering from an infection. However, protection decreases overtime and individuals become more vulnerable to infection as Covid evolves into more transmissible strains.

APHD advises residents who have not been vaccinated for Covid since September that they are not up to date on their vaccines and should get a booster as soon as possible. This can help prevent severe illness, hospitalization and death due to Covid.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends one updated booster dose for:

  • Everyone aged 5 years and older who completed the primary series

  • Children aged 6 months to 4 years who completed the primary series

Free vaccines and boosters are available Monday through Thursday with no appointment required at the Amarillo Public Health Department, 850 Martin Road, and Amarillo Public Health mobile clinics. To learn more, visit www.AmarilloAlerts.com/findavaccine.

Upcoming mobile vaccine clinics

  • Noon to 4 p.m. on April 8 at the Easter Eggcitement at the Amarillo Zoo, 700 Comanchero Trail

  • 1 to 4 p.m. on April 9 at the Vessel’s 7th Annual Easter Egg Hunt at Bones Hook Park, 2000 N. Hughes St.

  • 2 to 4 p.m. on April 11 at the PILC Hygiene Closet, 417 SW 10th Ave.

  • 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. on April 11 at the Internet Safety Afterschool Class, 1502 S. Cleveland St.

  • 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. on April 12 at the Downtown Amarillo Public Library, 413 SE 4th Ave.

  • 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on April 15 at the Spring Into Wellness Community Health and Resource Fair at the Southwest Church of Christ, 45th and Cornell

Nurses will be available at the mobile clinics to answer health-related questions. Learn more, including how to schedule a free ride to the Amarillo Public Health Department, at www.AmarilloAlerts.com/findavaccine.

This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Weekly Amarillo COVID-19 update notes 1 new death, 604 active cases