City Of San Antonio: First Cases Of Omicron Variant Detected In Bexar County

San Antonio TX

30 December, 2021

11:16 PM

Description

Press release from the City of San Antonio: December 13, 2021 CONTACT: [email protected] Rudy Arispe: (210) 207-8172 Steven Lee UT Health San Antonio 210-450-3823 [email protected] Elizabeth Allen, University Health [email protected] 210-358-2344 SAN ANTONIO (December 13, 2021) – The first two cases of the COVID-19 Omicron variant have been detected in Bexar County through genome testing conducted by UT Health San Antonio. "Metro Health has been monitoring this situation the past few weeks as it has been unfolding around the globe, so we expected to see cases in Bexar County eventually," Metro Health Director Claude A. Jacob said. "Vaccination continues to be the best defense and protection against COVID-19. We recommend that individuals who are not vaccinated do so as soon as possible to help protect themselves from the Omicron variant." "The UT Health San Antonio Molecular Diagnostic Lab, Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute (GCCRI) Genome Sequencing Facility and the GCCRI Bioinformatics Team have identified two SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variants in Bexar County. The samples were collected from patients on Nov. 27 and Dec. 7, 2021. Samples are sequenced from the UT Health San Antonio Molecular Diagnostic clinical laboratory, as well as University Health and Community Labs," said Dr. Marjorie David, director of the Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, also known as UT Health San Antonio. These sequencing efforts are funded by San Antonio Metropolitan Health District and the Texas Department of State Health Services. "University Health continues to care for patients who are ill with COVID-19, including those admitted to the hospital for serious disease," said Dr. Bryan Alsip, executive vice president and chief medical officer for University Health. "As we continue to learn more from the rapidly evolving situation around the Omicron variant, it is important to remember that vaccination and practices that limit potential exposure are still the best way for people to protect themselves and others from any COVID-19 variant." Omicron is the most recent variant of COVID-19. Early reports still indicate that the Omicron variant causes milder symptoms, and that vaccination provides extra protection against severe illness, hospitalization, and death. Full vaccination and a booster are recommended for everyone who is eligible, especially before any holiday gatherings. About one in three San Antonians are not fully vaccinated, according to Metro Health. Those seeking to be vaccinated or in need of a booster dose may visit the Alamodome drive-thru clinic from noon to 8 p.m. Wednesday-Friday or a Metro Health vaccine pop-up clinic. For a list of pop-up clinics, visit covid19.sanantonio.gov or call 311 and select option 8. University Health offers free Moderna and Pfizer COVID-19 vaccinations at the COVID-19 Vaccination Center at Wonderland of the Americas and at several pharmacy locations throughout the city. Visit University Health's vaccine page wecandoitsa.com for more information. Patients of UT Health San Antonio can schedule vaccines online here. Metro Health recommends that all individuals wear a mask, regardless of vaccination status, when indoors with many people outside of their household. Persons not feeling well and showing symptoms should stay home and get a COVID-19 test. Additionally, Metro Health strongly encourages 16- and 17-year-olds to get a Pfizer vaccine booster shot at least six months after completing their first two COVID-19 doses following the recommendation by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on December 9. Individuals can get a Pfizer vaccine booster at the Alamodome drive-thru clinic, University Health's Wonderland Mall clinic, or a Metro Health vaccine pop-up clinic. "We know that COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective, so we encourage older teenagers, ages 16 and 17, to get their booster ahead of the holidays and to be protected from serious illness or hospitalization," Jacob added. This press release was produced by the City of San Antonio. The views expressed here are the author's own.