SAN ANTONIO – Two people in Bexar County have tested positive for monkeypox, according to the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District.
They are the first confirmed cases here but Metro Health says the threat to the community still remains low.
Both of the individuals are isolating and are following the recommended protocols. Metro Health has also notified their close contacts.
As of Wednesday, Texas has reported 42 cases of monkeypox.
Austin has 6 confirmed cases and 7 presumptive cases.
The rare viral disease involves “skin lesions in the genital, groin, and anal regions” that could be confused with rashes caused by herpes and syphilis, according to health officials.
Other symptoms of monkeypox include fever, chills, headache, muscle aches and backache, exhaustion, and swollen lymph nodes.
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“With increased cases occurring nationwide and across the state, we have been actively monitoring this situation,” said Metro Health Director Claude A. Jacob in a news release. “Because the disease does not easily spread from person-to-person without direct contact, the chance of exposure to the public is minimal. We encourage residents to be aware of the symptoms, follow prevention recommendations, and consult with a healthcare provider when needed.”
Monkeypox is part of the same family of viruses that cause smallpox, according to the CDC.
It can be spread through skin-to-skin contact, especially with a rash, scabs or by sharing body fluids with someone who has the viral disease.
“Additionally, touching objects, fabrics, and surfaces that have been used by someone with monkeypox or close contact with respiratory secretions can transmit the disease,” Metro Health said in a release.
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To help curb the spread of monkeypox, Metro Health recommends the following:
Avoid close, skin-to-skin contact in large crowds where people are wearing minimal clothing (such as nightclubs, festivals, raves, saunas, and bathhouses).
Avoid close, skin-to-skin contact with someone with a new, unexplained rash.
If you were exposed to monkeypox or have symptoms such as fever, chills, swollen lymph nodes and a new, unexplained rash, contact your healthcare provider as soon as possible. Healthcare providers can provide testing and care for people with monkeypox.
If sick with monkeypox, isolate at home until the rash has fully resolved, the scabs have fallen off, and a fresh layer of intact skin has formed. Monkeypox is usually a self-limiting infection that does not require hospitalization.
Supplies of the vaccine against monkeypox are limited, including in Bexar County. Health officials said vaccination is only being offered to people identified as contacts during case investigations.
SAN ANTONIO – With thousands of COVID-19 cases reported in San Antonio each day, and with even more cases arising across the nation, many are asking when this surge will end and when normalcy will begin again.
Dr. Ruth Berggren, an infectious disease specialist with UT Health San Antonio, joined KSAT’s Q&A on Thursday, saying there are already a few predictions for when omicron could peak and cases would drop.
However, not every model forecasts the same prediction, and it differs with each location.
Dr. Berggren said based off of one model from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, the state of Texas as a whole may have already reached its peak. However, the city of San Antonio isn’t quite there yet.
“…It depends on whose model you look at. If you go to the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, which is a common cited source, they think that Texas cases peaked around Jan. 4. and are starting to come down. But if you look at our local data, we’re still increasing on a regular basis. And it doesn’t like we’re going to plateau out until towards the end of January,” Dr. Berggren said.
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This prediction comes after a record number of COVID-19 cases were reported by the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District on Wednesday, with 7,704 new cases in just one day. That’s the highest number of cases the city has seen in a single day so far in the pandemic.
On Thursday, cases dipped slightly but weren’t far behind, coming in at 5,781 cases, data shows.
Dr. Berggren said this surge locally isn’t surprising, considering what’s being seen nationally. However, the good news is that the omicron variant isn’t causing as severe symptoms as delta in many patients.
“It’s not surprising, given what we’ve seen around the world about the infectiousness of omicron. And remember that even though these numbers are sky high and rising, we’re not seeing the same degree of hospitalization from omicron that we had before,” Dr. Berggren said. “We’re still seeing full hospitals, but we’re not seeing the devastating impact on mortality that we had seen with the delta variant.”
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If you do come down with the virus, Dr. Berggren said there are a few things you should do.
For starters, if you have symptoms that aren’t life-threatening, she recommends you should still contact a doctor or primary care physician to determine next steps.
“If you have symptoms that don’t seem life-threatening, such as headache, fever, fatigue, some cough, loss of smell or taste… a reasonable thing to do is to call a doctor or primary care provider and discuss your symptoms. You will be told to stay home. Don’t go to work or school, wear a mask and stay away from other people, including in your own household,” Dr. Berggren said. “You should do this for at least five days.”
However, there are a few symptoms you should watch for that may indicate you need to head to an emergency room immediately, according to Dr. Berggren.
“New or out of the ordinary chest pain or shortness of breath, inability to keep down fluids due to vomiting, or an altered consciousness. A change in mental status, which would be confusion or extreme fatigue, extreme lethargy,” Dr. Berggren said.
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She added that if your oxygen level shows lower than 94% for more than a few minutes, you should go to an ER for an evaluation and further treatment.
You can watch the full Q&A interview with Dr. Berggren in the video player above.
Thursday’s COVID-19 Numbers
San Antonio Metropolitan Health District reported 5,781 new COVID-19 cases in Bexar County on Thursday.
Health officials also reported a 7-day moving average of 4,841 cases. There were nine new deaths, according to the data.
ALSO ON KSAT.COM: 5 charts show COVID-19 surge in San Antonio
There are 982 COVID patients in local hospitals with 206 in ICU and 73 on ventilators. Metro Health’s dashboard shows there are 9% of staffed beds available and 65% of ventilators available.
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On Tuesday, Metro Health’s dashboard reported a 31% positivity rate for this week, a 3.7% increase from the 27.3% reported last week.
See more of today’s COVID-19 statistics and city resources for the public here.
City health officials offer the following testing guidelines
Consider using a self-test before joining indoor gatherings with others who are not in your household.
A positive self-test result means that you have aninfection and should avoid indoor gatherings to reduce the risk of spreading the disease to someone else.
A negative self-test result means that you may nothave an infection. Repeating the test with at least 24 hours between tests will increase the confidence that you are not infected.
Ask your health care provider if you need help interpreting your test results.
Click here to access more information about other city no-cost testing sites.
SAN ANTONIO – The City of San Antonio will be adding three new COVID-19 testing sites through a partnership with Community Labs to address testing capacity and wait times that some have said lasted hours.
Wednesday’s COVID-19 numbers
The San Antonio Metropolitan Health District said the omicron variant had led to a three-fold increase in daily cases of COVID-19.
Metro Health’s COVID-19 dashboard showed an increase of 2,757 new cases, with a 7-day moving average of 2,875. There were also seven new deaths reported Wednesday, bringing the total to nine deaths over the past seven days.
There are 569 COVID patients in local hospitals, with 134 in ICU and 48 on ventilators. Metro Health’s dashboard shows there are 11% of staffed beds available and 65% of ventilators available.
See more of today’s COVID-19 statistics and city resources for the public here.
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Demand for testing surges across Bexar County
The new testing sites come as demand surges at no-cost and private sites throughout Bexar County.
Dr. David Gude, chief operating officer of Texas MedClinic, which also offers COVID testing, estimates their San Antonio locations handle between 1,200 and 1,500 tests per day. And some spots are reaching their capacity for other patients, too.
“The testing that we’re doing along with the sick, you know, the ill people and injured people that we’re seeing — we are seeing as many as we possibly can, and we’re having at some point in the day to say ‘We can’t add anymore. I’m sorry,’” Gude said.
Gude said the network of Texas MedClinics is also dealing with a 15% decrease in staff members due to their own COVID-19 issues.
ALSO ON KSAT.COM: Where to get a COVID-19 vaccine in San Antonio
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Metro Health said it’s new no-cost testing sites will be stationed at the Alamo Colleges District Support Operations Building, Palo Alto College and St. Philip’s College.
“Because of the increased demand for people seeking to get a COVID-19 test, we know we need to do more – and we are,” San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg said in a written statement included in a Metro Health news release.
Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff said new omicron cases are driving up hospitalizations in our area and is urging the community to do what it can to ease the stress on the local hospitals.
“This burden on hospitals is affecting doctors, nurses, and other key medical staff, who are also getting sick and are having to miss work, unable to care for patients in our hospitals,” Wolff said in a written statement. “If you haven’t already, get vaccinated.”
New testing sites coming as early as Thursday
Metro Health says no appointment is necessary for the new sites, and testing will be done for walk-ups only. Results are expected to be provided to patients within 24 hours, Metro Health added.
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The following are the new Community Labs locations and times of operation
Alamo Colleges District Support Operations Building, 2222 N. Alamo St. 78215
Opens Thursday, January 6 at 8 a.m.
Hours of operation Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Palo Alto College Building 20, 1400 W. Villaret Blvd. 78224
Opens Friday, January 7 at 8 a.m.
Building 20 – Performing Arts Center
Hours of operation Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
St. Philip’s College, 1801 Martin Luther King Dr. San Antonio, TX 78203
Opens Monday, January 10 at 8 a.m.
Hours of operation Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
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Metro Health says three more sites will be announced as the locations are confirmed, and it will notify the public when they are expected to open.
“We encourage anyone who has symptoms of COVID-19 to get tested, so they don’t spread the virus to others if they are positive. We hope these additional testing sites will help meet and alleviate current demand,” said Metro Heath Director Claude A. Jacob in a written statement. “Remember that we have the tools we need to contain this virus. Please mask up, get vaccinated and get your booster shot if you’re eligible. Please do your part to protect San Antonio by staying home if you are sick.”
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KSAT Q&A with Mayor Ron Nirenberg
Nirenberg joined anchors Steve Spriester and Myra Arthur during Wednesday’s KSAT Q&A to discuss testing capacity in the city. He said officials are working to secure more rapid tests.
“(Rapid tests) have some degree of inaccuracy. They’re not as good as the PCR tests in terms of the accuracy of the data. But it does give you an answer quickly,” Nirenberg said during the KSAT Q&A.
Nirenberg told Spriester and Arthur that the omicron has taken over many cities in Texas and the nation at the same time, leading to more significant numbers at hospital systems despite some people reporting milder symptoms with the new variant. The mayor said that, while the city was prepared for another surge, the numbers of those infected are growing faster than anticipated.
“The rise in the number of cases, the incredible jump of 11,000 cases in three days to start the new year here is actually how fast this thing has risen. Remember, two weeks ago here in the city, we were at a 2% positivity rate. That’s jumped to 27% in two weeks,” Nirenberg said during the KSAT Q&A.
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Watch the full interview with Nirenberg below
San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg discussed the demand for COVID-19 testing and how this COVID surge could impact the city on Wednesday’s KSAT Q&A..
City health officials also offer the following testing guidelines:
Consider using a self-test before joining indoor gatherings with others who are not in your household.
A positive self-test result means that you have aninfection and should avoid indoor gatherings to reduce the risk of spreading disease to someone else.
A negative self-test result means that you may nothave an infection. Repeating the test with at least 24 hours between tests will increase the confidence that you are not infected.
Ask your healthcare provider if you need help interpreting your test results.
Click here to access more information about other city no-cost testing sites.
SAN ANTONIO – San Antonio and Bexar County officials are celebrating what they called a major milestone in the effort to increase COVID-19 vaccinations.
As of Thursday, Bexar County reported that 1,263,881 residents 12 and older are now fully vaccinated, amounting to more than 75%. More than 90% have received at least one dose, amounting to 1,516,675 as of Thursday.
While San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg was pleased with the progress, he noted an important caveat in those numbers.
“Please remember that children younger than 12 are still not eligible for vaccination and that means we still have a considerable ways to go for our community to be fully vaccinated,” Nirenberg said.
Nirenberg reported two new COVID-19 deaths in Bexar County, totaling 4,651 since the pandemic began.
There were also 249 new COVID-19 cases, with a 7-day rolling average of 328.
There are 393 patients in area hospitals (roughly 70% unvaccinated), with 148 in the ICU and 75 on ventilators.
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Booster COVID-19 vaccines are being administered at the Alamodome and other Metro Health administration locations. Those who would like to get a booster shot are asked to bring their vaccine cards with them. While an appointment isn’t required, you can still make one by visiting the city’s COVID-19 website. Eligibility will be verified using the state registry.
The booster shots are only for those who are eligible under CDC guidelines and have received the Pfizer vaccine. Those who received Moderna or Johnson and Johnson vaccines will be turned away at this time. Click here to learn who is eligible for a booster.
The Alamodome site is open from noon to 8 p.m. Wednesday through Friday.
Officials are also encouraging people to get their flu shots. Many retail pharmacies are offering COVID-19 booster and flu vaccines for those who can’t make it to the city or county sites. Check with your local pharmacy for vaccine availability.
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Watch the entire briefing in the video player above to hear more from city and county leaders.
SAN ANTONIO – Eighteen new COVID-19 deaths were reported during Thursday’s COVID-19 briefing, bringing the total to 4,426 in the Bexar County area, according to Claude Jacob, Metro Health director.
Jacob reported 417 new cases and a new 7-day rolling average of 554 cases.
There are 659 COVID-19 patients in area hospitals, 81% of which are unvaccinated, Jacob said. He said there are 21 pediatric patients with COVID-19 in local hospitals.
See more of today’s COVID-19 statistics here.
COVID-19 vaccinations
Booster COVID-19 vaccines are being administered at the Alamodome and other Metro Health administration locations. Those who would like to get a booster shot are asked to bring their vaccine cards with them. While an appointment isn’t required, you can still make one by visiting the city’s COVID-19 website. Eligibility will be verified using the state registry.
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The booster shots are only for those who are eligible under CDC guidelines and have received the Pfizer vaccine. Those who received Moderna or Johnson and Johnson vaccines will be turned away at this time. Click here to learn about who is eligible for a booster.
Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff said the Wonderland of the Americas site has administered about 5,000 vaccinations since it reopened.
Jacob says Metro Health has given out 300 H-E-B gift cards as part of its vaccine incentive program. Click here for more information.
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Many retail pharmacies are also offering booster vaccines for those who can’t make it to the city or county sites. Check with your local pharmacy for vaccine availability.
Watch the entire briefing in the video player above to hear more from city and county leaders.
SAN ANTONIO – The COVID-19 positivity rate in Bexar County has decreased to 4.9% this week, down from 7.1% the previous week, according to San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg.
The mayor says the number of COVID-19 cases being reported are on a 100% downward trajectory. However, the risk level of our area remains “moderate” but is improving, Nirenberg said.
Metro Health Director Claude Jacob said the city is cautiously optimistic after seeing a steady decline in the positivity rate. However, leaders will be paying close attention during the holidays, as more people tend to gather indoors during cooler temperatures.
“We still have a long way to go,” said Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff during Tuesday’s briefing.
“It’s not over yet, but we’re going in the right direction,” he continued.
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Hospitalizations in Bexar County
There were 73 new hospital admission in the last 24 hours, and 83% of patients in area hospitals are unvaccinated.
Twenty-two COVID-19 patients in local hospitals are children, Nirenberg said.
See today’s COVID-19 numbers and what to know about the latest rise in San Antonio and surrounding areas here.
Monoclonal antibody treatment
Wolff says there has been a tremendous demand for monoclonal antibody treatment compared to other surges. He said each infusion costs more than $2,000, while a vaccine only costs $20.
Watch the entire briefing in the video player above to hear more from city and county leaders.
SAN ANTONIO – Ahead of Labor Day weekend, San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg on Thursday urged residents to remain vigilant and take precautions to help curb the spread of COVID-19.
“Remember again that the choices that you make over this holiday weekend will determine how much longer this surge of COVID-19 lasts,” Nirenberg said. “So please do your part to help us contain this virus.”
Nirenberg recommended that families have individually packaged meals and snacks at gatherings to reduce the chances of infection.
“Regardless of your vaccination status, mask up around others, wearing a mask is still the easiest thing to do for anyone to slow the spread fo this virus,” Nirenberg said.
Officials said no curfew will be imposed over the holiday weekend.
See today’s COVID-19 numbers and what to know about the latest rise in San Antonio and surrounding areas here.
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Hospital admissions are still high
Though overall hospitalizations have decreased, Nirenberg said there were still 195 new COVID-19 hospital admissions over the past 24 hours. Nirenberg said admissions have been “staying near those record numbers each day.”
Roughly 85% of those hospitalized are unvaccinated, Nirenberg said.
Part of the decrease in hospitalizations is due to the increased use of monoclonal antibody treatments like Regeneron, Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff said.
“Until the incoming patients start really dramatically going down, I think we still have a problem,” Wolff said.
Hospitals have also tried to bring certain medical services to patients at their home to cut down on admissions.
Flu season
Flu season is right around the corner, kicking off on Oct. 1. With COVID-19 cases still surging, officials recommended families get their flu shots as soon as possible to reduce their chances of getting sick.
“Don’t wait for a high number of (flu) cases in the community. The best time to get vaccinated is before the cases come,” said Dr. Anita Kurian, assistant director of Metro Health.
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Kurian said the city will begin receiving shipments of the flu vaccine toward the end of August and begin administering it in September. Other medical providers may have already started offering the flu shot, Kurian said.
If flu cases rise, experts worry about a potential “triple threat” amid the pandemic with COVID-19, the flu, and RSV.
San Antonio leaders scored a victory in court against Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Tuesday in the ongoing fight over mask mandates.
A Bexar County Civil District Court Judge granted the city and Bexar County’s request for a temporary restraining order against Abbott’s executive order banning mask mandates in schools.
Effectively, the ruling allows Bexar County and San Antonio officials to issue a mask mandate in public schools and other guidance like quarantine protocol – for now. No details have been released yet on the guidance but officials will hold a live press conference at 6:10 p.m.
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The order was granted after an hour-long hearing by 57th Civil District Court with Judge Toni Arteaga.
Arteaga said an affidavit from Metro Health Chief Medical Officer Dr. Junda Woo weighed heavily in her decision, as did the vulnerability of children who are returning to school amid a surge in coronavirus cases.
“I don’t do this lightly,” Arteaga said.
The temporary restraining order will remain in effect until another court hearing slated for Monday.
With the ruling, the city and county will “immediately issue an order requiring masks in public schools and requiring quarantine if an unvaccinated student is determined to be in close contact with a COVID-19 positive individual,” according to a news release. According to documents presented in court, they will also require face masks for employees of Bexar County and San Antonio and visitors to city and county facilities.
The ruling is the first court loss for Abbott’s ban on coronavirus mandates, which have been challenged across the state in recent days.
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On July 29, Abbott issued an executive order that further removed tools from local governments to enact policies that public health experts say would help mitigate the spread of COVID-19, including mask requirements, capacity limits and vaccine mandates. Abbott said the executive order “emphasizes that the path forward relies on personal responsibility rather than government mandates.”
Abbott’s executive order relied on the Texas Disaster Act of 1975, which he said gives him the authority to bar governments from imposing any coronavirus-related mandates.
Attorney Bill Christian, who represents the City of San Antonio, argued that Abbott’s interpretation is an overreach.
“We do not believe that this statute is broad enough to encompass the decisions of cities and counties in their local jurisdictions drawing on their authority under the local public health acts,” Christian said.
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As the city and county’s chief medical officer, the attorneys for San Antonio and Bexar County argue that Woo has the authority to impose a mask mandate under the Texas Health and Safety Code.
Kimberly Gdula, an Assistant Texas Attorney General, said that a temporary restraining order would effectively undo state law.
“Not only are (they) asking this court to overthrow an executive order that carries the force and effect of state law, they are asking this court to throw out parts of the Texas Disaster Act that were passed by the Legislature,” Gdula said.
Gdula also said that a recent ruling from the Eighth Court of Appeals reaffirmed the governor’s power under the Texas Disaster Act.
“Ironically, the governor is taking a state law meant to facilitate local action during an emergency and using it to prohibit local response to the emergency that he himself declared,” San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg said in a statement.
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The lawsuit comes amid a surge of COVID-19 infections that have pushed hospitals to the limit across the state and as schools return to campus for the fall semester.
In San Antonio, the 7-day average of new coronavirus cases is more than 1,200. Hospitalizations have also soared past 1,197. By comparison, an average of 140 patients were hospitalized with the virus in early July.
Several school districts have said they will openly defy Abbott’s ban on mask mandates and more court challenges are expected.
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Bexar County’s lawsuit comes a day after Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins filed a similar lawsuit challenging Abbott’s order.
SAN ANTONIO – The COVID-19 risk level that fell to the green zone of “low” in the months after the vaccine rollout has now increased to “severe.”
And it’s listed as “worsening.”
City officials base the level on hospital trends, the average case rate, the positivity rate and hospital stress as San Antonio along with other parts of the United States experience another wave of infections, many of which are the highly contagious delta variant.
As of Tuesday evening, Bexar County recorded a seven-day moving average of 1,146 new cases, an increase from 724 the week prior.
Officials also reported 920 COVID-19 patients in the hospital, an increase from 695 the week prior. About 260 patients are in the intensive care unit and 132 patients are on ventilators as of Tuesday.
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Data shows that as of Tuesday, 7% of staffed beds are available and 64% of ventilators are available.
Baptist Health System CEO Matthew Stone recently told KSAT that if hospitalizations continue to increase at that rate, they could surpass the January high of more than 1,500.
“And that will be – it will be a crunch,” he said.
City spokeswoman Cleo Garcia said the city’s COVID-19 risk level was at “low” before it increased to “mild” on July 6.
It was at that level for three weeks before increasing to “moderate.” On Tuesday, the city listed the risk level as “severe.”
The COVID-19 risk level in San Antonio went from “low” in early July to “severe” on Aug. 3. (KSAT)
Public officials and health experts have upped the urge for greater health precautions while encouraging people to get vaccinated.
Dr. Rogelio Saenz, a demography professor at UTSA’s College for Health, Community and Policy, said it is likely that San Antonio could experience another spike as children head back to school.
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“(A spike) is likely to be the case that the public health experts are indicating, and a lot has to do with the knowledge that specialists are now realizing with the delta variant … these particular variants are much, much more dangerous, they’re much more contagious,” he said.
High infection levels and the delta variant caused the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to reverse its course on mask mandates. Now, public health officials are advising people to wear masks indoors, regardless of vaccination status, in parts of the U.S. with at least 50 new cases per 100,000 people in the last week.
The masking guidance will stay in place until spread is under control, but experts say the easiest solution is to boost arm jabs.
Saenz added that “one of the statistics that needs to be regularly, regularly repeated” is that the majority of people who are hospitalized or die from COVID-19 are not vaccinated.
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When unvaccinated people are on ventilators and are at “death’s door,” he said, it’s often too late.
In San Antonio, about 63.4% of those 12 years or older, or about 1.05 million people, are fully vaccinated, as of July 28. About 76.8% of that age group, or 1.27 million people, have received at least one dose of a vaccine.
COVID-19 Bexar County Vaccination Statistics. (City of San Antonio)
SAN ANTONIO – With COVID-19 numbers heading in the wrong direction, San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg pleaded with unvaccinated residents who are most susceptible to serious illness or death when they are infected with the virus.
“Forget the misinformation that you hear out there,” Nirenberg said during a countywide briefing on Friday. “You are at great risk of severe illness.”
Officials are seeing a concerning rise in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in Bexar County. Five weeks ago, the average number of coronavirus hospitalizations stood at 123. As of Friday, 418 people are now hospitalized due to COVID-19, Nirenberg said.
Infections have been rising due to the spread of the delta variant, a strain of COVID-19 that has proved to be deadlier and more transmissible.
Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff said that up to 97% of the patients battling the virus in the hospital are unvaccinated.
“For those that chose not to get vaccinated, I would hope that (the hospitalizations) would send a clear message to everybody else,” Wolff said. “You better go get your vaccination. It’s a little late to ask for the vaccination when you’re fixing to go on a ventilator.”
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Along with the rise in hospitalizations, the community has seen a rising positivity rate, the percentage of weekly COVID-19 tests that come back positive for the virus. The county’s positivity rate hit 13.5% as of Monday. A month ago, it was 3.8%.
Though roughly a third of the reported cases involve vaccinated people, health officials said less than 1% of vaccinated residents in Bexar County have been infected with COVID-19.
“Yes, we may get COVID,” Wolff said about the potential of breakthrough infections. “But we’re not going to end up sick and in the hospital.”
Nirenberg said he and Wolff will receive briefings twice weekly about COVID-19 conditions, with updates going to the public on the Bexar County’s progress curbing the virus.
COVID-19 conditions are not only worsening in San Antonio, but across the state of Texas, where the positivity rate hit 10.2% for the first time since February.
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Medical experts say COVID-19 vaccines are still the best way to reduce the likelihood of infection and prevent severe illness or hospitalization.
In San Antonio, roughly 65% of adults are fully vaccinated, but statewide, that number drops to roughly 51%, according to the latest state data.
The Texas Department of State Health Services said the variant is “having a significant effect on unvaccinated people leading to increases in new cases and hospitalizations.”