COVID-19 Infections Spike in Tom Green County as Vaccinations Remain Low

SAN ANGELO, TX – Over the last few weeks, San Angelo appears to be incrementally increasing the number of COVID-19 cases every day. 

At the start of the summer, the number of new infections and active cases seemed to dwindle as San Angelo Health Department reported less than five cases daily –– only to rapidly increase this month.

During the first thirteen days of May, a total of 75 cases were reported. By comparison, only 24 new cases were reported in June during the same time span. 

But even as cases seemed to decrease between those two months, July appears to be inching upwards as the San Angelo Health Department reports 93 new cases in the first two weeks of the month.

According to Health Services Director Sandra Villareal, there are several factors that could be causing a rise in the numbers.

"The relaxing of mask mandates, coupled with celebrations, parties, get-togethers, have placed people in very close proximity to each other and at higher risk of contracting COVID. The COVID-19 virus and the variants – Delta in particular – are highly transmissible." stated Villareal. "During the summer, people are traveling more. The virus knows no boundaries; it’s being transferred in our community and throughout the world. In addition, we simply do not have enough people in our community vaccinated."

According to DSHS, "studies show vaccines to be more than 90% effective in preventing mild and severe disease, hospitalization and death. Vaccines have proven to be effective against the variants, and if vaccinated, less likely to spread the virus."

DSHS is reporting the following vaccination rates for Tom Green County:

• 12+ with one dose – 43.83%
• 12+ fully vaccinated – 39.5%
• 65+ with one dose – 80.41%
• 65+ fully vaccinated – 73.18%

The vaccination rates for the state of Texas are only slightly higher:

• 12+ with one dose – 58.89%
• 12+ fully vaccinated – 50.84%
• 65+ with one dose – 82.24%
• 65+ fully vaccinated – 73.97%

"While the COVID-19 vaccinations are not mandatory, we strongly encourage everyone to get theirs in order to keep the number of cases and hospitalizations from increasing, and ultimately, preventing death." said Villareal. "If more people are vaccinated, the less likelihood of a spike or increase in COVID cases and the less chance that one of the existing variants will spread further or evolve into a new variant."

According to www.vaccines.gov, there are 16 locations in San Angelo where at least one of the three approved COVID-19 Vaccines are available free of cost:

• Community Pharmacy –– 3520 Knickerbocker Rd Ste A
• CVS Pharmacy –– 318 W Beauregard Ave
• CVS Pharmacy –– 4210 College Hills Blvd
• Market Street Pharmacy –– 3121 Sunset Dr, S04
• H-E-B #52 –– 3301 Sherwood Way
• H-E-B –– 5502 Sherwood Way
• Sams Club –– 5749 Sherwood Way
• Shannon South Hospital –– 3501 Knickerbocker Rd.
• Walgreens –– 12 N Abe St
• Walgreens –– 2828 N Bryant Blvd
• Walgreens –– 3328 Sherwood Way
• Walmart –– 610 W 29th
• Walmart –– 1852 Sherwood Way
• Walmart –– 5501 Sherwood Way
• Walmart –– 5154 Knickerbocker Rd
• Walmart –– 3440 S Bryant Blvd