Weekly COVID-19 update notes 847 active cases, 2 new deaths

From Staff Reports
·3 min read

The Amarillo Department of Public Health (APHD) noted two new deaths related to the coronavirus and 847 cases of COVID-19 currently active for the week of March 16-22.

According to the Amarillo Department of Public Health's weekly COVID-19 report card, there were 136 new cases, with the overall total rising to 90,903 COVID-19 cases, 847 total active cases, a seven-day positivity rate of 16% and 1,338 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, 641 total hospital beds are currently occupied, a decrease from the previous week, with 117 total beds occupied in the ICU and 37 ventilators in use. These numbers include patients with and without COVID-19.

The COVID-19 report card for March 16-22, issued weekly by the Amarillo Department of Public Health.
The COVID-19 report card for March 16-22, issued weekly by the Amarillo Department of Public Health.

According to the health department's website, there have been a total of 694,316 tests administered locally since the beginning of the pandemic. Potter County's total cases since the start of the pandemic rose to 43,653, with 788 deaths related to the virus. Randall County's total COVID-19 cases since the start of the pandemic rose to 47,275, with 551 deaths related to the virus, according to the site Friday.

The website also noted 24 COVID-19 patients were hospitalized, with 20 in the ICU and one on a ventilator. In Amarillo school numbers, a total of 20 cases were reported over the past 14 days, according to the site.

Long-term impacts of COVID-19

Research has shown that COVID-19 reinfection substantially increases an individual’s risk of death, hospitalization and health consequences from long COVID, according to the Amarillo Public Health Department. Since the beginning of the pandemic, nearly 38 million adults in the United States have reported post-COVID symptoms that lasted three months or longer, according to an analysis of data from a household survey conducted by the Census Bureau.

Long COVID has been associated with more than 200 symptoms that can last from months to years. Factors that influence a person’s risk of long COVID include their age, sex, health history and severity of their illness. According to a review in the journal Nature, women and people with Type 2 diabetes or ADHD may have an elevated risk.

Researchers recently reported that vaccinated people have a 5% to 10% risk of getting long COVID, while unvaccinated people have a 15% to 20% chance of developing long COVID. Amarillo Public Health encourages residents to stay up-to-date on vaccinations and boosters to decrease the chances of developing long COVID and prevent severe illness, hospitalization and death due to COVID.

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

  • 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on April 1 at the Community Baby Shower at MORE Church, 5511 E. Amarillo Blvd.

  • Noon to 5 p.m. on April 1 at the Visible Revolution Celebration, 1501 28th St.

  • 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on April 4 at the Start Your New Business Class, 1502 S. Cleveland St.

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.

For the latest Covid information or to find vaccine locations, visit www.AmarilloAlerts.com.

This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Weekly Amarillo COVID-19 update notes 847 active cases, 2 new deaths