Weekly COVID-19 update notes 9 deaths, 315 new cases

From Staff Reports
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As hospital bed capacity for the area remains high, the Amarillo Department of Public Health (APHD) noted nine new deaths related to the coronavirus and 1,248 cases of COVID-19 currently active as of Thursday.

"We have 9 new confirmed deaths after completing a full investigation on cause of death and they were determined due to COVID," APHD said in a Facebook post with the weekly update.

The COVID-19 report card for March 2-8, issued weekly by the Amarillo Department of Public Health.
The COVID-19 report card for March 2-8, issued weekly by the Amarillo Department of Public Health.

According to the Amarillo Department of Public Health's new COVID-19 report card issued for the week of March 2-8, there were 315 new cases, with the overall total rising to 90,646 COVID-19 cases, 1,248 total active cases, a seven-day positivity rate of 12% and 1,336 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, 655 total hospital beds are currently occupied, an increase of 10 from the previous week, with 120 total beds occupied in the ICU and 25 ventilators in use. These numbers include patients with and without COVID-19.

According to the health department's website, there have been a total of 690,496 tests administered locally since the beginning of the pandemic. Potter County's total cases since the start of the pandemic rose to 43,535, with 788 deaths related to the virus. Randall County's total COVID-19 cases since the start of the pandemic rose to 47,111, with 548 deaths related to the virus, according to the site Friday.

The website also noted 21 COVID-19 patients were hospitalized, with 19 in the ICU and none on ventilators. In Amarillo school numbers, a total of 39 cases were reported over the past 14 days, according to the site.

The weekly influenza report is available online at https://www.amarillo.gov/departments/community-services/public-health/communicable-disease/community-reports . The report is created by all the local providers who voluntarily report influenza to APHD in Potter and Randall counties. "We had 6 cases of RSV reported this week. We are happy to report that we have no deaths related to flu this week," APHD said.

Changes to COVID testing coverage

With the COVID-19 emergency declarations set to expire on May 11, the response to the spread of the coronavirus remains a public health priority for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. A variety of factors will be affected once the emergency declarations end, including coverage for COVID-19 testing.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, COVID-19 testing provides important information to limit transmission and outbreaks. Delays in testing may also delay seeking care when sick, as well as delays in self-isolation that could reduce the spread of the virus to others, a news release from APHD notes.

"The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recently outlined the changes Americans will experience related to Covid testing coverage after May 11. The requirement for private insurance companies to cover Covid tests without cost sharing will end; however, coverage may continue if plans choose to continue to include it. State Medicaid programs must provide coverage without cost sharing for Covid testing until September 30, 2024, after which coverage may vary by state," the release states. "Medicare beneficiaries who are enrolled in Part B will continue to have coverage without cost sharing for laboratory-conducted Covid tests when ordered by a provider, but will no longer be able to access free over-the-counter Covid tests. Free Covid tests may continue to be distributed from the Strategic National Stockpile, depending on the supply and resources available."

The Amarillo Department of Public Health's weekly COVID-19 report is available online at www.AmarilloAlerts.com/reportcard.

APHD strongly encourages residents to stay up-to-date on vaccinations and boosters to prevent severe illness, hospitalization and death due to COVID-19. Free vaccines and boosters are available Monday through Thursday with no appointment required at the APHD's location, 850 Martin Road, and Amarillo Public Health mobile clinics.

Upcoming mobile vaccine clinics

  • 2 to 5 p.m. on Monday, March 13 at the Northwest Amarillo Public Library, 6100 SW 9th Ave.

  • 10 a.m. to noon on Friday, March 17 at the Guyon Saunders Resource Center, 200 S. Tyler St.

  • 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. on March 21 at the North Amarillo Public Library, 1500 NE 24th Ave.

  • 3 to 5 p.m. on March 23 at the Southwest Amarillo Public Library, 6801 SW 45th Ave.

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-19 information or to find vaccine locations, visit www.AmarilloAlerts.com.

This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Weekly Amarillo COVID-19 update notes 9 deaths, 315 new cases