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Dr. Jason Bowling, the chief epidemiologist at University Health, has reported an increase in COVID-19 cases across all age groups. He believes a major factor is interaction of students in close quarters at school and then at home with family. According to the Texas Department of Health and Human Services, there was a significant increase of COVID-19 cases from July to August, particularly in the age group of 5-11 years old.
COVID-19 Cases Rise Across All Age Groups in San Antonio
Dr. Jason Bowling, a leading epidemiologist at University Health, has noted a surge in COVID-19 cases across all age groups. Bowling, also a specialist in infectious diseases and a professor at UT Health, attributes the increase to students’ close contact in classes and school events which may lead to transmission within households.
The Respiratory Illness Interactive Dashboard from the Texas Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) shows a noticeable rise in cases from July to the end of August.
In July, there were no recorded COVID-related ER visits for children aged 5-11. However, by August 1st, there were 10 such visits in the first week alone, and by August 29th, ER visits shot up to 61. These numbers encompass HHS’s public health region 8, including San Antonio and surrounding areas.
Local school districts, such as San Antonio, North East, and Northside Independent School Districts, confirm a general spike in respiratory illnesses, typical for the start of the school year. However, they could not directly link these illnesses to COVID-19 as that information is confidential and would need to be disclosed by parents or guardians.
Bowling asserts that this surge in cases isn’t surprising to health officials. “We’ve observed a pattern over the last few years where COVID activity picks up in the late summer,” he explained. “It starts to increase in August, peaks in September and then declines.”
School district officials ensure they implement preventive measures, including sanitization of high-traffic areas and reinforcing the importance of hand hygiene. Bowling advises everyone, especially those with preexisting conditions, to assess their need for vaccination or treatment.
Many with minimal symptoms don’t seek medical attention, unknowingly exposing others to the virus. Bowling encourages recognition of even mild symptoms to prevent potential exposure, particularly to high-risk individuals in households.
For those who contract COVID-19, treatments like Paxlovid and Remdesivir are available. Preventive measures include vaccination, with the updated vaccine approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the process of distribution. Community-based pharmacies are expected to receive the first batches, followed by healthcare systems. University Health has ordered the updated vaccine and is awaiting delivery.
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