Miriam and her 15-year old daughter, asylum-seekers from Honduras, have been held at a private prison in Dilley for more than 300 days.  They are among more than 80 immigrant families being kept at the South Texas Family Residential Center, as it is called by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE. The facility is ringed in barbed wire and the ICE agents refer to the families as “inmates.”

Where can you get tested for the COVID-19 virus? This map has COVID-19 testing locations around San Antonio. Some are free, some are not. Some sites are pop-up testing locations that last from 1-2 days. This map will change as more information becomes available. The City of San Antonio announced that city-run testing sites would only test symptomatic people beginning July 6. They also asked for those people who are getting tested that have insurance to please no go to the free testing locations, so those who are uninsured can get tested. 

By Valeria Olivares, The Texas Tribune June 17, 2020

Find the latest information with historical context on this data visualization developed by Bexar County and the City of San Antonio. Click the tabs across the bottom of this graphic to drill down on important indicators such as hospitalizations on this data dashboard developed by Texas Department of Human Services and Texas Health Services.

Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery has resumed committal services for families who are burying their loved ones. Since March 23, 2020 the cemetery discontinued committal services and military funeral honors because of the COVID-19 pandemic.  

VIA Metropolitan Transit is committed to helping people get back on their feet by offering a new fare assistance program for unemployed riders. Now that fare collection has resumed after a 10-week fare-relief period, those who are unemployed can request VIA’s new Workforce Assistance Pass. The free bus pass is good for 31 days from activation and is available through this August for VIA customers who present a copy of their unemployment benefit statement (dated May 15 or after) and a current photo ID at a VIA ticket window during normal business hours.

When the coronavirus pandemic struck America, infecting and hospitalizing thousands of New York City residents in a matter of weeks, Natasha Gonzales knew she needed to do something. Then as the virus invisibly crept its way to San Antonio and shelter-in-place orders were issued, she delivered meals to seniors and then volunteered with the San Antonio Food Bank.

Dorothy Pearl Davis was a natural born caretaker whose innate sense of compassion and concern for others led her to become a certified nursing assistant so that she could help the frail and elderly. “She loved to serve others and had that passion for caring for people,” said her sister, Dr. Tammy Steen. Davis, 60, died May 10, 2020 in San Antonio. She was the first nursing home employee in the city to die of the coronavirus and was employed at the Southeast Nursing and Rehabilitation Center for only three months at the time of her death.

By Megan Menchaca, The Texas Tribune May 21, 2020 With Texas’ runoff elections set to happen in the middle of a pandemic this summer, many voters are asking: Do I have to go to the polls to cast a ballot?