Doctors see summer spike in COVID-19 related cases

SAN ANTONIO – Fireworks aren’t the only thing going up this week. Doctors say COVID-19 cases are climbing in Military City, USA.

“COVID hasn’t gone away, and it looks like we’re starting to experience another summer surge,” said Dr. Jason Bowling, a hospital epidemiologist with University Health and infectious disease specialist with UT Health.

He said the hospital’s virology report from last week shows around 100 confirmed cases of COVID-19.

“As we know, most people in the community are not tested,” Dr. Bowling said. “That means that there’s a lot more COVID that’s out there.”

While cases have gone up, Dr. Bowling said there hasn’t been a significant spike in hospitalizations.

“It’s still a serious illness for people to know about so they can know what they can do to protect themselves,” he said.

Dr. Bowling encourages people to get tested for COVID-19 if they’re feeling sick.

“If you have COVID, what’s recommended is that you wear a mask and that you isolate until you don’t have a fever for at least 24 hours and your symptoms are overall improving,” he explained. “But then, as you go back out in the community, it’s still helpful to wear a mask around other people for at least another five days to help reduce the risk of transmitting it to other people.”