GOOD MORNING
We'd like to tell you there's loads of good news to discuss this morning with Kerr County's coronavirus situation, but this could be a difficult next few days, especially for healthcare workers at Peterson Regional Medical Center.
A MOMENT OF ZEN
One of the great things about Kerrville is the Guadalupe River Trail and it was a perfect day Wednesday to walk the trail where we found these two photos.
 |
 |
THE COVID-19 SITUATION
In nearly two years of the coronavirus pandemic, Wednesday's COVID-19 numbers from Peterson Health demonstrated how far we still have to go in containing the virus.
Last year, without the benefit of widespread vaccinations, Kerr County routinely saw days with 30 or more new cases, including four days last December with more than 70.
A year later, with nearly 50% of Kerr County resident five years old and older fully vaccinated against COVID-19, another COVID-19 surge is underway in the final week of December.
While Peterson Health doesn't test for specific variants, this week's results strongly suggest the highly contagious omicron COVID-19 variant is here. The first two days showed 43% of Peterson's testing were from those vaccinated, but those hospitalized are primarily unvaccinated.
However, even during the worst days of the second and third waves of COVID-19, there haven't been days like this week when you see 25 or more new cases being tested through Peterson every day. Remember, in those initial days of the pandemic, testing was broad, with the Texas National Guard assisting in the effort and all results tracked by the Texas Department of State Health Services.
Fast-forward to today, and people can test at home — if those tests are available — but they don't have to share those results with DSHS. With omicron able to elude vaccines and highly contagious, it's unclear how many infections are active in Kerr County.
LARGEST ONE-DAY CASE KERR COUNTY CASE COUNTS
- 142, Monday, Sept. 21, 2020
- 117, Tuesday, Jan 5, 2021
- 110, Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2020
- 92, Monday, Sept. 20, 2021
- 84, Thursday, Dec. 23, 2020
- 81, Saturday, Dec. 12, 2020
- 74, Friday, Dec. 18, 2020
- 71, Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2020
- 62, Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2021
- 62, Thursday, Jan. 21, 2021
- 52, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021
- 51, Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2021
- 51, Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2020
- 47, Sunday, July 12, 2020
- 39, Monday, Dec. 27, 2021
- 39, Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2021
- 34, Tuesday, Aug. 31, 2021
- 32, Friday, Oct. 22, 2021
- 31, Thursday, July 16, 2020
- 30, Tuesday, Aug. 10, 2021
- 27, Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2021
- 26, Thursday, July 23, 2020
MEANWHILE, IN NORTH TEXAS
The Dallas Morning News reported that North Texas’ largest public hospital system will open two additional COVID-19 wards amid a sharp increase in hospitalizations as a surge in coronavirus cases, fueled by the omicron variant, begins to hit Dallas-Fort Worth, Parkland Health & Hospital System said Monday. Read more https://www.dallasnews.com/news/2021/12/27/were-doing-badly-parkland-hospital-reports-covid-19-hospitalization-spike-staff-hit-by-virus/
REMINDER ABOUT NEW YEAR'S EVE EVENTS:
- Bridget's Basket in Hunt is hosting a dinner and fireworks show. Look for ambiance and great food; Bridget's Basket is hard to beat. Add in a special menu and fireworks, and we're sold. However, you're going to need reservations for this gala. Call them at (830) 238-3737 to reserve your spot.
- Moon Shadow Haven, a slick new events venue in Mountain Home, will play host to a 21-and-over event to benefit the Hill Country Youth Ranch. There will be live music, drinks and dancing. For more information, visit their e-invite.
- Gravity Check Saloon and Arena will play host to a masquerade ball on Friday night. The event starts at 7 p.m. Tickets are $25 for general admission, $40 per couple. Reservations are required; for tickets, visit the event site.
TED CRUZ WAS HAVING A BAD DAY ON TWITTER
If you monitor Twitter, as we do, you'd notice that Texas U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz was having a bad day on the social medial platform after mistaking Western Australia for the state of Washington. Cruz deleted the Tweet, but the always reliable screenshot was there to save the day.
|
Twitter
See @AdamKinzinger's post on Twitter.
twitter.com/AdamKinzinger
|
 |
MOMENT OF CUTENESS
|
Twitter
See @Reuters's post on Twitter.
twitter.com/Reuters
|
|
THE ALAMO BOWL IS NEVER BORING
Oklahoma and Oregon served up another offensive bonanza in the Valero Alamo Bowl on Wednesday night in San Antonio. I often point to this game back in 2011 when Baylor's Robert Griffin III helped the Bears roll in a shootout against Washington, as the beginning of our connection to Baylor and Texas. Five years later, my daughter ended up in Waco, and we followed soon after. In the 2021 version of the game, Oklahoma rolled to a 47-32 victory over Oregon. Since moving to a Big 12-Pac 12 matchup in 2010, the Big 12 is 9-3 in those games. This was Oklahoma's first appearance in the bowl.
|
Twitter
See @MrMatthewCFB's post on Twitter.
twitter.com/MrMatthewCFB
|
|
JUST A REMINDER
The Lead Live will return on Jan. 5 at Pint and Plow. If you're interested in being a guest on the show in the coming weeks, feel free to send us a note. louis.amestoy@kerrcountylead.com.
A LOOK BACK AT SOME OF THE FACES WE'VE COVERED
Photography is a big part of our effort at The Lead, and we compiled some of our favorite images from the last 90 days of 2021 — lots of smiles. Check out our e-Edition here:
https://indd.adobe.com/view/afd2488f-b49f-43f3-8d71-1739697edafe
AN INVITATION TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE LEAD
We will be moving our morning newsletter — delivered to your inbox Monday-Friday — to paying subscribers only starting next week. We will still offer free content for important breaking news and unique content offered on our Facebook page, including The Lead Live webcast at 9 a.m. on weekdays.
We have two paid models:
- $5.99 per month, a 64% savings compared to other media outlets.
- $54.99 per year, a 73% savings compared to other media outlets.
- So, upgrade your subscription here: https://kerrcountylead.com/subscribe
STILL NEED A CALENDAR? WE'VE GOT A FEW LEFT
Photography is a big part of the Kerr County Lead, and we're offering this special calendar/planner as a way of supporting our work — not to mention it makes a great Christmas gift.
The photos are all from The Lead's editor Louis Amestoy, with a focus on the beauty of Kerr County. This effort would not have been possible without the support of the Amestoy family, Herring Printing, Joe Herring Jr., and the critically important eye of Kerri Wilt.
If you would like to purchase one of our calendars, they are just $15. Here's the link: https://the-kerr-county-lead.square.site/product/calendar/2?cs=true&cst=custom
 |
