COVID-19 hospitalizations at Peterson Regional Medical Center jumped up to 11 people on Tuesday morning — the most since October. Two people are in the intensive care unit.
The hospital reported 27 new cases, including 12 vaccinated. It continued the trend of breakthrough cases of vaccinated people contracting the omicron variant of COVID-19. Peterson reported 66 new cases in two days, but 43% were vaccinated.
The high number of vaccinated people coming down with the virus is an indication of the omicron variant, which has proven elusive to vaccinations.
The two-day total of 66 cases rivals the numbers during the delta variant surge in September. After Labor Day, Peterson reported 74 cases on Sept. 7. However, after Labor Day, there were few back-to-back days to compare what Peterson just reported. To make things even more challenging is that in-home testing does not require notification to the Texas Department of State Health Services.
The actual number of active cases in Kerr County is between 66 and more than 140, the last number the DSHS reported.
On Monday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued new guidance that people who test positive should isolate for five days. If asymptomatic at that time, they may leave isolation if they can continue to mask for five days to minimize the risk of infecting others.
"The Omicron variant is spreading quickly and has the potential to impact all facets of our society," CDC Director Rochelle Walensky. "CDC's updated recommendations for isolation and quarantine balance what we know about the spread of the virus and the protection provided by vaccination and booster doses. These updates ensure people can safely continue their daily lives. Prevention is our best option: get vaccinated, get boosted, wear a mask in public indoor settings in areas of substantial and high community transmission, and take a test before you gather."
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