COVID-19 numbers may be surging in Kerr County

It was a one-day reprieve for Peterson Regional Medical Center.

The Kerrville hospital was back to having one patient in the intensive care unit with COVID-19. There are two people hospitalized at Peterson.

While it's difficult to understand how many active cases in Kerr County currently, the Texas Department of State Health Services noted on Friday that 90 people have active infections. Peterson reported just three new cases on Friday, but those numbers may be masking actual active infections because of the rise of self-testing kits.

On Friday, DSHS reported 89 people probable for COVID-19 in Kerr County — the second-most during the pandemic. Since Nov. 12, DSHS has identified more than 100 active cases, but the state agency has historically been behind in its reporting.

In another COVID-19 issue, Peterson Health said it will comply with a federal order to vaccinate its employees by Jan. 4, 2022.

"As of Jan. 4, 2022, all Peterson Health employees, medical staff, volunteers, contractors and students must be fully vaccinated unless a medical exemption or sincerely held religious accommodation is submitted and approved by the Human Resources Department," Peterson Health Community Relations Director Lisa Winters said in a statement. "Currently, Peterson Health has a 73% vaccination rate and our workforce is currently getting vaccinated to meet this requirement or submitting requests for the defined exemptions/accommodations. The Human Resource Department is working diligently with all employees to attain full compliance with the new mandate."