With the winter season nearing and people gathering for the upcoming holidays, the spread of respiratory viruses in our community is expected to begin.

Services are still being offered to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in the community.

San Antonio Metro Health hosted “Walk to Remember” to honor those who have lost their life to an AIDS-related illness.

A Texas Department of State Health Services dashboard, updated Monday afternoon, shows just 42 available, staffed pediatric ICU beds across the state. In San Antonio’s region, which covers nearly 2.9 million people and stretches to the Mexican border, there were only nine available.

The existing health disparities in Bexar County are obvious, according to a new report.

San Antonio Metropolitan Health District officials answered the public's questions at an educational forum about prevention and transmission of the latest public health emergency -- the monkeypox virus.

The Omicron subvariant BA.4 & BA.5 are circulating the community. Doctors say there's limited information on these variants so far.

As Omicron cases are surging nationally, local doctors are advising what to look for and if we should cancel holiday plans.

Doctors at the Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory of the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio are identifying COVID variants by genome testing.

On Wednesday’s KSAT News Now, San Antonio Metro Health Assistant Director Dr. Anita Kurian talked about the latest developments with the approval of the COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5 to 11 years old.

The COVID-19 risk level is Bexar County is now “low,” which hadn’t happened since early July, Mayor Ron Nirenberg said during Tuesday’s briefing.

The COVID-19 positivity rate for Bexar County has dropped to 1.9% this week, according to San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg.

Metro Health will administer COVID-19 booster doses of the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines beginning Wednesday at its COVID-19 vaccine pop-up clinics.

The COVID-19 positivity rate in Bexar County has improved this week and is now at 2.1%, according to Metro Health Director Claude Jacob.

San Antonio and Bexar County officials are celebrating what they called a major milestone in the effort to increase COVID-19 vaccinations.

San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg reported 17 new COVID-19 deaths in Bexar County, totaling 4,559 since the pandemic began.

San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg reported 17 new COVID-19 deaths in Bexar County, totaling 4,559 since the pandemic began.

The COVID-19 positivity rate in Bexar County has dropped to 3.9%, down from 5% last week, according to San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg.

Eighteen new COVID-19 deaths were reported during Thursday’s COVID-19 briefing, bringing the total to 4,426 in the Bexar County area, according to Claude Jacob, Metro Health director.

The COVID-19 positivity rate is at 5% this week, and the number of cases reported in the area are on a downward tractory, according to San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg.

Twenty-two new COVID-19 deaths in Bexar County were reported Thursday during the COVID-19 briefing by San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg.

The COVID-19 positivity rate in Bexar County has decreased to 4.9% this week, down from 7.1% the previous week, according to San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg.

San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg reported 13 new COVID-19 deaths in Bexar County during Thursday's briefing.

The COVID-19 positivity rate in Bexar County has dropped to 7.1% this week, down .5% from last week, according to San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg.

San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg reported 21 new COVID-19 deaths during Thursday night’s city and county briefing.

The COVID-19 positivity rate in Bexar County has fallen three points this week and is now at 7.6%, and the risk level is now moderate.

Bexar County’s COVID-19 positivity rate has dropped three points to 10.6% this week, and local leaders are crediting more testing to identify cases earlier.

Bexar County’s COVID-19 positivity rate has has dropped three points to 10.6% this week, and local leaders are crediting more testing to identify cases earlier.

San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg says the COVID-19 positivity rate for the Bexar County area has decreased to 13.6%, down from 16.9% last week.

San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg says the COVID-19 positivity rate for the Bexar County area has decreased to 13.6%, down from 16.9% last week.

San Antonio City Manager Erik Walsh said there were 39 available EMS units on Thursday, and all were in use for 26 minutes amid a surge of 911 calls for COVID-19 and other emergencies.

Metro Health is looking into additional strategies to help encourage people to get the COVID-19 vaccination after cases have started to spike again in the San Antonio area.

While COVID-19 cases are going up, fewer people are getting tested for COVID-19 and more than 100,000 Bexar County residents have failed to return for the second dose of the vaccine.

The city of San Antonio is pushing for everyone to get their COVID-19 vaccine and making it easier for travelers at the airport to get a shot.

San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg said 839,813 people have received their first COVID-19 vaccine dose, and 571,530 are fully vaccinated in Bexar County.

San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg reported 249 new COVID-19 cases and no new deaths during today's briefing.

Mayor Ron Nirenberg reported 710,896 first-dose COVID-19 vaccines have been administered, and 417,650 people are fully vaccinated.

Almost 300 people with an “unknown age” have received their COVID-19 vaccine in Bexar County, according to Metro Health officials.

Mayor Ron Nirenberg reported 524,642 first-dose COVID-19 vaccines have been administered. He said 294,158 people are fully vaccinated.

SAN ANTONIO – The San Antonio Metropolitan Health District will make 30,000 first-dose Pfizer vaccine appointments available starting at 7 p.m. Thursday. Residents can register for an appointment on the Metro Health COVID-19 vaccine registration website. The appointments are reserved for people who meet the current criteria for priority groups 1A, 1B, and 1C unless there are still appointments available on Monday when the state opens up vaccines to all adults. By signing up, they will receive a text notifying them of locations that have appointments available. At this time notifications will be for the Alamodome, Wonderland of the Americas operated by University Health, UT Health San Antonio, and WellMed.

SAN ANTONIO – The first known cases of the COVID-19 B.1.1.7 variant have been identified in two residents of Bexar County, Metro Health officials said. The results of genetic sequencing this week showed that their infection was caused by the UK variant strain. According to studies, this UK variant does not seem to cause a more severe illness. At this time, there are very few cases caused by this UK variant in the United States. Related Stories:Health expert says San Antonio ‘could be in for a world of hurt’ with COVID-19 variantsFirst case of UK COVID-19 variant confirmed in Austin-Travis County

A health care worker administers a COVID-19 vaccination at the new Alamodome COVID-19 vaccine site, Monday, Jan. 11, 2021, in San Antonio, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)SAN ANTONIO – Bexar County health officials announced Monday that anyone scheduled to receive the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccination at the Alamodome on Tuesday through Thursday of this week will be rescheduled because of a shipment delay from the Texas State Health Department. Second-dose appointments scheduled on Monday and Friday of this week are unaffected by the delay. “We understand that some may be concerned about the extended time between their second dose but we are within CDC guidelines to ensure the vaccine will still work with no issues. Anyone who has had a first dose automatically has a second dose reserved for them.

SAN ANTONIO – Researchers are working on learning more about the new variant of coronavirus found in the United Kingdom. In San Antonio, the Metropolitan Health District is working to identify if the variant has made its way into our community. Dr. Anita Kurian, assistant director of Metro Health, says the only way to confirm if the mutation has made it to San Antonio is by looking at the genomic sequence, which helps identify the strain. Researchers say all viruses tend to mutate, and the COVID-19 vaccine is expected to be effective against the new variant. RELATED: Vaccines, therapeutics should still be effective against new coronavirus strand, San Antonio doctor says

SAN ANTONIO – San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg and Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff updated the community about the local response to COVID-19 in the daily briefing Monday night. Nirenberg reported 88,196 total COVID-19 cases and 1,397 total deaths in Bexar County, an increase of 1,210 new cases as of Monday. Nirenberg says the positivity rate has increased to 15.7%, up from 9.2% last week. The overall COVID-19 risk level remains at “moderate.”Kurian says since the hospital stress score has remained static, it has kept the risk level at “moderate” for this week. “If you want to stay open, then you should contact TABC” to be able to serve food, Wolff said to bar owners.

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices voted 13-1 to recommend priority be given to health care workers and those living in long-term care facilities in the first days of any coming vaccination program. Eryn Morris, whose mother is staying in a long-term care facility in Seguin, is hopeful for what’s to come. “Back in March, they shut all of these facilities down,” Morris said. “Mainly the hospital staff working directly with patients positive or at high risk for COVID-19 and long-term care staff working directly with vulnerable residents and EMS providers and home health care workers as well,” Kurian said. The CDC’s advisory committee is set to meet again after the FDA announces emergency approval for the vaccine.

SAN ANTONIO – The San Antonio Indian Nurses’ Association will be visiting homeless camps in downtown San Antonio on Wednesday to deliver about 250 blankets to those without homes. “During this holiday we thought of helping our unfortunate neighbors and this is our kind gesture of giving something from our association to the homeless people,” said SAINA President Dr. Pressanna Parackal. Nurse volunteers along with coordinators from Haven for Hope will be delivering the blankets. It’s happening from 1 to 4 p.m.On Saturday, SAINA will hold its second annual Conference & Gala with the theme “Celebrating superheroes.” During the virtual event they will be donating another 1,000 blankets to various groups including Haven for Hope, Child Advocates of San Antonio, Endeavors, and South Alamo Regional Alliance for the Homeless. Several esteemed guests are expected to attend the event including Dr. Anita Kurian, Assistant Medical Director, City of San Antonio Metropolitan Health District along with nurses from 14 different countries.

SAN ANTONIO – San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg and Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff updated the community about the local response to COVID-19 in their daily briefing Monday night. Nirenberg reported 81,174 total COVID-19 cases and 1,357 total deaths in Bexar County, an increase of 1,117 new cases as of Monday. City officials also reported that 587 patients are hospitalized, 182 are in the intensive care unit and 99 are on ventilators. The positivity rate is at 9.2%, down from 10% last week. Wolff has said he would close bars again if the positivity rate is 10% for two consecutive weeks.

SAN ANTONIO – The city of San Antonio’s Metropolitan Health District wants to keep people informed when it comes to the COVID-19 vaccine, which is not yet available. In its effort to educate and inform Bexar County residents about vaccine developments, Metro Health even created a COVID-19 Vaccine Implementation Committee. Early in the COVID-19 Vaccination Program, there will be a limited supply of the vaccine, health officials said, adding that supply will increase into 2021. Once a COVID-19 vaccine is approved for distribution, Metro Health will follow CDC and the Texas Department of State Health Services’ recommendations on vaccine allocation and priorities and will update the local plan accordingly, as needed. To keep the community informed about the changing situation, Metro Health and community partners will host virtual town halls to answer questions about the COVID-19 vaccine.

SAN ANTONIO – Editor’s Note: Watch the entire briefing in the video player above. San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg and Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff updated the community about the local response to COVID-19 in their daily briefing Monday night. Nirenberg reported 53,443 total COVID-19 cases and 1,062 total deaths in Bexar County, as of Monday, an increase of 102 new cases. City officials also reported that 226 patients are hospitalized, 85 are in the intensive care unit and 45 are on ventilators. Dr. Anita Kurian, assistant director of the Metropolitan Health District, said there have been 17 positive COVID-19 cases involving students and 29 involving school staff members since campuses reopened.

SAN ANTONIO San Antonio medical professionals are gearing up and changing protocols as the start of flu season nears. Dr. Ralph Riviello, chair of emergency medicine at University Hospital and UT Health San Antonio, says the flu season was moderate in 2019-2020, but he and other doctors are expecting the season to be busier than normal this year. It wasnt the worst I had experienced, but we saw a fair number of patients per day in our emergency department with flu-like symptoms, Riviello said. Medical experts across the country and locally are also looking at the flu results from the Southern Hemisphere, where the flu season is in full swing. Ive read reports out of Australia where theyre undergoing their flu season now, and that was mild compared to other years, Riviello said.

SAN ANTONIO San Antonio health officials are preparing for the flu season amid the novel coronavirus pandemic and coming up with new ways to get people their flu shot while trying to limit the spread of both viruses. What we will be giving is the quadrivalent flu shot, which protects everybody six months and older against two flu A and two flu B viruses, said Dr. Anita Kurian, assistant director of the Metropolitan Health District. San Antonio pediatrician urges people to get flu vaccine early to avoid twin pandemicMetro Health will be hosting drive-thru flu shot clinics in San Antonio this fall. Kurian said people who have recovered from COVID-19 can get a flu shot. Anybody six months and older is eligible to get the flu shot, should get their flu shot, so we minimize the medical visits, the hospitalizations, and thereby the subsequent strain on our health care system that might occur, Kurian said.

It dug itself out of a backlog caused by the sudden surge of COVID-19 positive cases that it needed to investigate. Metro Health may be calling you for contact tracingMetro Health says it has 165 case investigators. Dr. Anita Kurian, assistant director of Metro Health, during the contract tracing process, positive COVID-19 test results from labs are sent to the Texas Department of State Health Services and Metro Health. Because of the surge in cases, Metro Health contracted Emocha Health to help handle this part of the process. Kurian says with more staff and an updated system, Metro Health has a better handle and turnaround on case investigations.

COVID-19 Risk Level: 8/3/20 (COSA/Bexar County)Nirenberg said there is a discrepancy in the deaths reported by the state due to the timing of the reported death. Dr. Anita Kurian, assistant director of Metro Health, said the state has asked local jurisdictions to report any discrepancies, but the state cant change its numbers unless a death certificate is amended. So Metro Health has to investigate these cases before reporting the deaths in its count. Kurian said there are 55 deaths the state has reported that Metro Health is working to investigate. Kurian said death notifications are sometimes batched and sent over to Metro Health, which is why some deaths may be reported later than expected.

SAN ANTONIO Editors Note: Watch the entire briefing in the video player above. San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg and Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff updated the community about the local response to COVID-19 in their daily briefing Monday night. The mayor said one person came to San Antonio as a hurricane evacuee from the coast this weekend and was helped by the Red Cross. She said the goal is a 5% positivity rate. Track daily spikes in COVID-19 cases in San Antonio, Bexar CountyMORE CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE FROM KSAT:

Here are a few of the highlights:Nirenberg reported 31,316 total COVID-19 cases and 262 total deaths in Bexar County, as of Monday, an increase of 481 new cases. COVID-19 Risk Level, Week of 7/20/20 (COSA)Nirenberg said there were 3,310 cases over the weekend, and 1 in 10 of those cases were pediatric cases involving people under 18 years old. Dr. Anita Kurian , assistant director of the Metropolitan Health District, said there has been a slow increase in pediatric cases since May. Dawn Emerick, former Metro Health director, and the interim Metro Health director, Dr. Colleen Bridger , Nirenberg said he would not discuss any personnel issues. Dr. Ken Davis, chief medical officer of CHRISTUS Santa Rosa, said his health system is currently using refrigerated trucksTrack daily spikes in COVID-19 cases in San Antonio, Bexar CountyMORE CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE FROM KSAT:

San Antonio – It will take weeks before San Antonio Metro Health officials know whether or not there’s been a plateau in the spread COVID-19 cases in Bexar County. Bexar County surpasses 15,000 COVID-19 casesThe city has also made the decision to only test people who are showing symptoms at the city run testing locations. There are still more than 50 testing locations in the county, including private providers who can test asymptomatic people, Kurian said. ‘A little ray of hope:’ Acceleration of COVID-19 spread is slowing down, San Antonio mayor saysThe city reports 48 calls were received regarding violations concerning the public health ordinance. The owner, Greg Barrineau, said he’s concerned about the increasing cases of COVID-19 cases but he’s fighting the ordinance in court for a fair application of the law.

San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg and Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff updated the community about the local response to COVID-19 in their daily briefing Monday night. Here are a few of the highlights:Nirenberg reported 7,156 total COVID-19 cases and 97 total deaths in Bexar County , as of Monday, an increase of 274 new cases. Nirenberg said local COVID-19 briefings will be held every weekday as the number of cases continues to rise. Testing capacity in Bexar County has risen to at least 5,200 tests per day, Nirenberg said. Were not out of the woods.The mayor said if hospitalizations continue to trend upward, the hospital system could be in trouble.

San Antonio While San Antonians may know how many COVID-19 cases have been found in their community, its not always clear where exactly they may have occurred. Online statistics record statistics by ZIP code, but individual businesses are generally not required to disclose if they have had any COVID-19 cases among staff, said San Antonio Metropolitan Health District Assistant Director Anita Kurian. Employees at New Braunfels, Bulverde H-E-B stores test positive for COVID-19Kurian said Metro Health is not recommending taking that step either. From the data and our public health experience and public health investigations, we are seeing transmissions occurring among close contacts. Meanwhile, Metro Health will continue to perform a contact tracing investigation for every positive case, Kurian said.

SAN ANTONIO Editors Note: Watch the entire briefing in the video player above. Here are a few of the highlights:Nirenberg reported 2,953 COVID-19 cases and 78 total deaths in Bexar County, as of Wednesday. Kurian said as people are continuing to follow health recommendations, the infection rates are fewer than expected by health officials. When asked about reform for San Antonio Police Department leadership, Nirenberg said the state has a say on what can change. Coronavirus data: San Antonio cases stabilizing, but officials urge vigilance to avoid second waveMORE CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE FROM KSAT:

SAN ANTONIO – The Centers for Disease Control announced that a group of people who were in China and potentially exposed to the coronavirus is arriving in San Antonio on Thursday. The group will be housed at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, which is one of four coronavirus quarantine zones in the United States. San Antonio city officials, along with regional public health partners, also answered questions about the coronavirus, including what it means to have coronavirus evacuees at JBSA-Lackland. "Folks that are being quarantined in these military installations, they are being isolated away from the general population. Assistant City Manager Colleen Bridger said in there are no cases of the coronavirus in Bexar County or Texas.