CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — If you’ve heard stories of family members, friends or coworkers recently contracting COVID, you’re not alone. COVID-19 cases are on the rise again across the country, including in the Coastal Bend region.
Dr. Eric Baggerman, CEO and pediatrician at Amistad Health, said COVID has a six-month cycle, meaning cases typically increase in the winter and summer.
Baggerman said there could be a few reasons for the spike in cases.
“Just like in the winter, if people could gather in smaller spaces and do more things, picnics and things like that, maybe people could share more,” Baggerman said.
For the past two years or so, the Omicron variant of COVID-19 has dominated. Currently, a sub-variant of this variant, KP.3, is causing an increase in the number of infections. Its main characteristic is that it is highly contagious.
Jazlyn Vella said she believes it’s the strain her sister was recently infected with.
“My sister… just recovered from COVID two days ago. She had it for about two and a half weeks and she, her husband and her kids were pretty sick,” Bella said.
Bella said contracting the virus was a bit of a shock but not a surprise.
“She panicked again because she didn’t think she’d get it again because she was vaccinated. I think it was a big shock for her, especially with her children getting it. It’s always scary when kids get COVID-19, especially with it continuing to spread and all the different strains coming out, I think it’s a really scary situation,” Bella said.
But Baggerman said the rise in cases is not as dangerous as it was during the first COVID-19 outbreak in 2020.
“What we’ve seen since 2020 is a more normal variation of the virus. It’s no different than any other virus,” Vella said.
But even though it’s not that dangerous, people should take precautions if they feel they need to.
“People with health issues, people over 65, people with heart disease, lung disease …” Baggerman said.
Nationwide, COVID positivity rates are up 12-13% and emergency room visits are up 4%. Though cases are rising, fewer people are being hospitalized compared to previous variants.
Baggerman said the vaccine significantly reduces the risk of hospitalization from COVID-19. The newest vaccine, called the 24-25 COVID vaccine, was approved earlier this month and is expected to be available by September.
