As of January 12, 2021, Guadalupe County is reporting 8,365 COVID-19 cases. The total number includes 6,461 recovered, 480 confirmed active cases, and 147 probable active cases.

Numbers of COVID-19 Patients at GRMC: Currently GRMC has 36 hospitalized COVID-19 patients. GRMC’s 7 day moving average of new COVID-19 admissions is 6 per day and the 7 day moving average for COVID-19 hospitalizations is 34 per day. This information represents average numbers from our facility alone.

State Vaccine Information: Governor Greg Abbott held a press conference Monday January 11, 2021 to update Texas on COVID-19 vaccines in our state. He announced that the state is working on large scale HUB vaccination centers capable of vaccinating thousands of people in one day with plans for 28 large scale vaccine hubs and 206 in smaller communities around the state. Health care workers, those 65 and up and those with chronic healthcare conditions are primary priority.

Local Vaccine Planning: Next week GRMC anticipates receiving a shipment of 800 Moderna COVID-19 vaccines for the second dose in the vaccination series to be given to those individuals who received their initial dose at GRMC. GRMC’s experience with the initial vaccine clinic and planning of the subsequent clinic have laid the groundwork for planning on a larger scale.

Guadalupe Regional Medical Center is committed to helping deliver the COVID-19 vaccine to our community and is pursuing both smaller and larger scale delivery models. Based on our current available resources, GRMC has requested 500 doses of vaccine per week from the State of Texas. If that allocation is granted the vaccines would be delivered per state guidelines to populations currently eligible. GRMC does not have a waiting list for vaccines. If the State grants our allocation request we will clearly communicate the registration and scheduling process.

GRMC, Guadalupe County, and the City of Seguin are in talks to organize and plan mass vaccine efforts with the goal of providing up to 1,000 vaccines per day. Planning is ongoing and details we will be forthcoming.

New Variant: On January 7, 2021 Department of State Health Services confirmed identification of COVID-19 B.1.1.7 also known as the “UK” variant of the corona virus in a Harris County man with no recent travel history. The fact that he had not travelled makes it probable that this variant is present and being transmitted in the Harris County area. This variant is not more severe but spreads more easily from person to person. In order to contain the spread of COVID-19 GRMC encourages the community to continue to wear masks, socially distance and avoid crowds, and perform good hand hygiene.

GRMC Capacity: During this current surge in COVID-19 cases, GRMC has increased its ICU capacity from 9 to 24 beds by repurposing non-traditional care areas for the care of patients with COVID-19 pursuant to federal waivers allowing for flexibility. GRMC is being stretched and challenged to continue to care for all our patients during the recent increase of COVID-19 activity in our community but we are meeting that challenge with the help of staffing resources coordinated with South Texas Regional Advisory Council.

High Hospitalizations in Trauma Service P: Per Department of State Health Services the amount of hospital capacity utilized for COVID-19 cases in the San Antonio region is at 22.9% at this time. Pursuant to Governor Abbott’s executive Orders GA-31 and GA-32 all elective surgeries that can be safely postponed must be re-scheduled until the local trauma service area is no longer considered an area of high hospitalizations. When the trauma service area has stayed below 15% hospital capacity utilized for COVID-19 cases for 7 consecutive days this prohibition will end.

If you are scheduled to have a procedure at Guadalupe Regional Medical Center soon please contact your physician to determine if the procedure will proceed. GRMC remains open and ready to treat those presenting for care. We will return to normal surgical operating procedures as soon as possible.