San Antonio COVID, flu cases rise after the holidays

The Metropolitan Health District on Tuesday updated its weekly dashboard, showing an increase of 966 COVID cases in Bexar County since the last reported update on Dec. 19.

As of Tuesday, 159 patients hospitalized across Bexar County hospitals tested positive for COVID, up from an average of 120 patients a few weeks ago, said Dr. Bryan Alsip, chief medical officer for University Health.

“COVID is certainly around and it’s not going away,” Alsip said. “Holiday travels and gatherings have increased person-to-person contact, [so] we’re seeing a larger number of infections of COVID and transmission of that infection.”

According to data provided by University Health, the number of people testing positive for the flu across Bexar County hospitals surpasses the increasing number of people testing positive for COVID.

The patients hospitalized have underlying medical illnesses or health complications, he said.

According to CDC data last updated the week of Dec. 23, hospital admission levels for COVID in Bexar County remain low, but respiratory illness activity levels are at a high.

Alsip said that although RSV cases are trending down since a peak in cases in November, San Antonio is now entering peak flu season, which ends in March.

According to the CDC, San Antonio’s trends are reflected in state respiratory illness activity, currently at a high level, based on the number of health care visits for fever, cough or sore throat.

Across the state of Texas, the flu and COVID cases are increasing, while RSV is decreasing.

At the same time, “people are also experiencing symptoms from the cedar pollen, which can mimic upper respiratory infections and certainly make people feel miserable,” Alsip said.

Alsip said COVID and flu vaccines are still available for anyone eligible, and current vaccines and boosters are effective against the latest variants of the illness.

The CDC recommends ordering free at-home COVID tests online, and isolating when symptomatic. Alsip said the numbers San Antonio is seeing may not reflect the full picture.

“Certainly those that are reported represent a smaller portion of the actual total number, because not everybody gets tested,” Alsip said. “Those who test through home tests aren’t reporting those numbers.”