COVID-19 Cases Surge in San Antonio Metro Area

San Antonio Metro Health has reported a 387% increase in COVID-19 cases since the beginning of July, with 1,612 new cases reported in the past week. While hospitalizations remain low, health officials attribute the rise in cases to factors such as increased indoor gatherings, summer travel, and the heat. The predominant strain behind the new cases is EG.5, a sub-variant of the Omicron variant. Federal health officials are expected to release an updated COVID-19 vaccine booster this fall to target strains like EG.5. Metro Health emphasizes the importance of vaccination as the most effective tool to protect against COVID-19.