Although San Antonio is nearing the tip of its COVID-19 surge winter peak, the city hasn’t quite reached the summit yet.

Experts are seeing some differences in symptoms with the various COVID-19 variants. The differences may be small, but local doctors say it's important to know about them.

As COVID-19 cases continue to surge in the San Antonio area, the estimated date of when the city may actually reach its peak keeps getting pushed back.

With new COVID variants and constant recommendation updates, it can be tough to wade through the information, so our KSAT Trust Index team is doing your fact checking for you.

With thousands of COVID-19 cases reported in San Antonio each day, and with even more cases arising across the nation, many are asking when this surge will end and when normalcy will begin again.

The highly infectious omicron variant has COVID-19 cases on the rise. The increase has people looking for convenient at home tests and higher quality face masks, but they’re harder to find.

Dr. Ruth Berggren, an infectious disease specialist with UT Health San Antonio, joined Thursday’s KSAT Q&A to discuss COVID-19 reinfection with the new variant, omicron’s effect on frontline health care workers and precautions to take for those who start showing symptoms and can't find a test.

Parents of students in Northside ISD are concerned as San Antonio's largest school district comes back from winter break.

In-person jury trials scheduled in the first two weeks of January will be postponed due to the surge of coronavirus infections in Bexar County.

Dr. Ruth Berggren, an infectious disease specialist with UT Health San Antonio, joined the KSAT Q&A on Thursday to discuss the latest rise in omicron COVID-19 cases and what people should do before seeking help at an emergency room.

The holidays are a busy time of year for traveling and having large gatherings. With the omicron and delta variant spreading, it could also be a busy season for COVID. People hoping to check if they are covid free before and after Christmas are having some trouble finding tests and testing locations.

Dr. Ruth Berggren, an infectious disease specialist with UT Health San Antonio, joined the KSAT Q&A on Thursday to discuss new developments about the omicron variant and to answer questions concerning the virus.

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

Although there’s still a lot of uncertainty surrounding the new Omicron COVID-19 variant, health officials say that early data indicates the mRNA vaccines are still proving to be effective.

Add over-the-counter COVID-19 test kits to your grocery lists along with pumpkin pie and turkey this holiday season. Medical experts say the tests could be a tool to ensure the virus doesn’t spread during family gatherings.

As COVID-19 surges amid a continuous mask mandate feud, parents and others are sharing why they support or don’t support masks in area schools.

Here’s what San Antonio doctors recommend people do if they test positive for COVID-19.

Dr. Ruth Berggren, an infectious disease expert with UT Health San Antonio, says local hospitals are full amid an influx of COVID-19 patients.

Infectious disease specialist Dr. Ruth Berggren discussed how COVID-19 vaccines are working against the Delta variant during Thursday’s KSAT Q&A.

The CDC originally stated people should not get the COVID-19 shots within 14 days of other vaccines. That has now changed. There are no longer any time limitations.

Is there a time limit to get your second COVID-19 vaccine?

Infectious Disease Specialist Dr Ruth Berggren from the Long School of Medicine at UT Health San Antonio talks about “best mask practices” and viewer questions.

Dr. Ruth Berggren, of the Long School of Medicine at UT Health San Antonio, joins KSAT Q&A to discuss the effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccines against other variants.

Dr. Ruth Berggren, of the Long School of Medicine at UT Health San Antonio, joins KSAT Q&A to discuss teens receiving their COVID-19 vaccine and when you should still keep your mask handy despite new CDC guidelines.

Federal health officials are calling for a pause in the use of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine. The announcement prompted Bexar County hospitals and clinics planning to use the company’s vaccine to develop a new game plan.

San Antonio Archdiocese Archbishop Gustavo Garcia-Siller has reinforced the church’s position regarding all three vaccines. AdThe archbishop said it was concerning that Johnson and Johnson used “some remote cells of abortion tissue” to produce the vaccine, but he understood none of the those cells are in the vaccine itself. “That is in the vaccine, not the cells,” Berggren said. She said fetal cell lines have been used for years. “There are many vaccines and drug products that we wouldn’t have today had these cell lines not been used,” Berggren said.

SAN ANTONIO – San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg and local health professionals updated the community about the local response to COVID-19 in their daily briefing Thursday night. Nirenberg reported 197,497 total COVID-19 cases and 2,678 total deaths in Bexar County, an increase of 242 new cases as of Thursday. The mayor said more than 265,000 people have gotten their first COVID-19 vaccine dose from the city site. AdDr. Ruth Berggren, with UT Health San Antonio, said the Bexar County Hospital District administered 6,072 vaccines, the largest distribution day to date. She said UT Health San Antonio has administered 65,000 vaccines as of Friday.

AdDr. Berggren said in an interview with KSAT 12 that two face masks may not be necessary. “I don’t think double masking is the answer — it’s the 3Ws,” Dr. Berggren said. What kind of face mask should I be using? With these new virus variants, you may be asking yourself just how safe the face masks you’ve been using over the last year actually are. “We know that they’ve been found in Houston, and we believe that they’re here,” Dr. Berggren said.

SAN ANTONIO – UT Health infectious disease expert Ruth Berggren said San Antonio could be in for “a world of hurt” if members of the community let their guard down with COVID-19. Berggren said Thursday in a Q&A segment on KSAT that she is very concerned about the COVID-19 variants that she thinks have probably already made it into San Antonio. “We know that they’ve been found in Houston, and we believe that they’re here,” Berggren said. There are three variants that health experts are most concerned with-- the United Kingdom variant, the South African variant and the Brazil variant. If we’re not careful, if we let our guard down, we could be in for a world of hurt,” Berggren said.

And Texas health providers are only offering the Moderna and Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine to people who fall into two categories — Phase 1A and Phase 1B. AdSo, when will children be able to get the COVID-19 vaccine in San Antonio and Texas? She estimated that kids may be able to start getting the COVID-19 vaccine in fall 2021 or in 2022. Children who are 9 years old and younger make up 5.7% of the city’s case count, according to San Antonio’s Metro Health Department. About 11% of the case count consists of children ages 10-19.

SAN ANTONIO – Many people are understandably anxious to get a COVID-19 vaccine, but with cases surging right now, some people end up getting COVID before they can get the first or second dose. So, how long does a person who has had the new coronavirus need to wait to get the vaccine? And what happens if you get sick with COVID in between getting the first and second doses of the virus? But what if you’ve had the first shot of the vaccine and then get sick with COVID-19 before you’ve had the second dose? “This may in fact delay the timing of your second shot but we don’t think that will affect the efficacy of the vaccine,” Berggren said.

SAN ANTONIO – Like many social media posts about the COVID-19 vaccine, misinformation about the effects of the vaccine can be found all over social media. Posts claiming that the COVID-19 vaccine causes infertility in women and sterilization in men appear to be targeting those who are pregnant, looking to conceive, or planning a family in the future. “So the short answer is, it does not cause infertility,” said Dr. Patrick Ramsey, Chief of Maternal Fetal Medicine for University Health System. KSAT is labeling the claim that the COVID-19 vaccines cause infertility and sterilization as NOT TRUE. Medical experts say anyone who is pregnant or thinking of getting pregnant should talk to their individuals providers when assessing if the COVID-19 vaccine is right for them.

SAN ANTONIO – Some pregnant women are wondering if the COVID-19 vaccines are a safe option for them and their baby, as we move through the beginning phases of vaccine distribution. Pfizer’s vaccine trials tried to exclude pregnant women, but as Dr. Ruth Berggren, an infectious disease doctor with UT Health San Antonio’s Long School of Medicine, told viewers during KSAT’s vaccine townhall, that did not happen. “Our recommendation is that when these are available, that pregnant women be given the opportunity to get them,” Deering said. “What we do know is that the two vaccines that are out now, so Pfizer and Moderna, they’re mRNA vaccine,” Deering said. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists does recommend lactating women and pregnant women should be offered the COVID-19 vaccine.

SAN ANTONIO – COVID-19 vaccine distribution is underway in many parts of the U.S., and while some frontline health care workers have already gotten their shot, others are choosing to wait. A San Antonio nurse who worked in the frontlines in New York, Houston, El Paso and San Antonio is choosing to wait to get vaccinated. “You have some nurses and some health care professionals that just feel like this vaccine was expedited way too fast, and we just don’t know too much about it,” she said. Infectious disease specialist Dr. Ruth Berggren received her vaccine on Tuesday. Even though the Pfizer vaccine received emergency approval already, it doesn’t mean the clinical trials are over.

SAN ANTONIO – She talks the talk, and now she’s proving to walk the walk. Dr. Ruth Berggren, KSAT’S COVID-19 medical consultant, confirmed she will be one of the first health care workers to receive the vaccine on Wednesday. It will be administered through University Health System, one of four hospitals in our area that have already received the first shipments of the vaccine, as several other local hospitals await their shipments this week. Today UT Health San Antonio received 5,800 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, to be given to those at highest risk such as health care and other front-line workers, and nursing home residents starting Wednesday. Here’s a breakdown of hospitals receiving vaccines as part of the first round.

SAN ANTONIO – With the first doses of Pfizer’s newly approved COVID-19 vaccine arriving in Texas this week, many questions still remain about distribution and the drug. Unlike some others, the COVID-19 vaccine does not contain dead cells from the coronavirus. RELATED: UK probes whether COVID-19 vaccine caused allergic reactionsThere has been some unfounded concern on social media that the vaccine contains cells from a human fetus. Both Dr. Kemp and Dr. Berggren debunked this idea but say keeping track of vaccinations is crucial. MORE ON THE COVID-19 VACCINE:

SAN ANTONIO – Editors note--On Dec. 10, at 7 p.m., KSAT anchor Isis Romero will host a livestream discussion with a panel of experts from San Antonio Metro Health to give you the most pertinent information about vaccines in South Texas. Dr. Ruth Berggren, an infectious disease doctor with UT Health San Antonio’s Long School of Medicine said during KSAT Q&A that San Antonio’s medical community and first responders will be some of the first to receive the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine. And those people will be getting the vaccine first,” she said. Dr. Berggren said San Antonio could see this first doses arrive as early as this week. Watch KSAT Q&A’s live Monday-Friday at 6:30 p.m.Do you have questions about the coronavirus vaccine?

However, people also have some concerns about what the vaccine contains, its side effects and when they’ll be able to get it. The current coronavirus vaccine focuses on mRNA, or messenger RNA, which is found in your body. As for side effects of the vaccine, Berggren said they’re similar to those of a flu shot. Metro Health discusses planBerggren said most side effects of any vaccine are going to be apparent within about six weeks. So when it’s your turn to get the vaccine, Berggren says to make an appointment and don’t show up late.

SAN ANTONIO – Halloween is here and the holidays are around the corner -- a time Doctor Ruth Berggren with UT Health San Antonio says is crucial to protect those who are most vulnerable to the coronavirus. And I really want people to think about keeping the grandparents safe. According to the city’s website, San Antonio’s coronavirus positivity rate is at 6.9%, up from recent weeks. Still Berggren says San Antonio is in a good spot and can hang on to that relatively low rate if safety precautions continue. “There is no question in my mind that we will still be taking precautions next year.

SAN ANTONIO – Two people who received these text messages asking them to participate in a COVID-19 case study for a hefty compensation asked the KSAT Trust Index Team to see if real companies are recruiting study participants by text. To determine the legitimacy of the texts, KSAT’s Trust Index Team cast a wide web, reaching out to hospital systems, research centers and consumer watchdogs. Never click on unknown/unsolicited links.”Baptist Health System:“These are likely to be illegitimate and could be phishing attacks by cyber criminals. Never give out that information to someone you don’t know.”------------Dr. Berggren wants the public to be aware of the many legitimate studies currently being conducted by researchers working to defeat COVID-19. In terms of recruitment for COVID-19 studies, KSAT is marking this “Be Careful” on the Trust Index.

SAN ANTONIO – Infectious disease doctor Ruth Berggren with UT Health San Antonio’s Long School of Medicine says we should be taking safety precautions like hand washing to prevent more than just coronavirus. In the latest KSAT Q&A she talks about transmission of covid-19 and things like the common cold. More from Dr. Berggren:How safe is curbside voting? COVID-safe Halloween celebration ideas from San Antonio doctorCOVID-19 hospitalizations not seeing same decrease as positivity rate, says San Antonio doctor

SAN ANTONIO – As voters weigh their options on how to cast their ballot in November, viewers in our KSAT Q&A wanted to know how safe curbside voting will be? “You all need to keep your physical distance while you’re carrying out that curbside voting. But there’s nothing inherently wrong with curbside voting itself. To make sure illness does not prevent you from casting you ballot consider voting early or by mail. Early voting begins Oct. 13 and ends Oct. 30.

SAN ANTONIO – Dr. Ruth Berggren, an infectious disease doctor with UT Health’s Long School of Medicine, joins KSAT Q&A to talk about the latest in coronavirus spread in San Antonio and vaccine development. Watch the full interview in the video player above. Catch more expert interviews every Monday- Friday at 6:30 p.m. and on the Nightbeat.

SAN ANTONIO – As the holiday season approaches, many families are wondering about the safety of Halloween traditions like trick-or-treating, gatherings or haunted houses in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. Whatever you do for Halloween, those things still have to be going on,” Berggren said. “I think the old traditional Halloween evening of clumps of kids going along and pressing doorbells, maybe with sticky fingers and then footing. If you are hoping to spend the holiday with friends and family, trying coordinating a virtual meetup where everyone watches the same movie. Experts are promoting outdoor activities and warn against indoor activities like haunted houses and large parties.

SAN ANTONIO – From concerns over mail-in ballots to risking exposure at the polls, voting during a pandemic has been a hot topic this election season. In the latest KSAT Q&A, Dr. Ruth Berggren with UT Health’s Long School of Medicine said whichever way you vote, it could be good for your health. How could voting be good for your health in the middle of a pandemic? Latest vaccine developmentsThe Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has put out new guidance to prepare states for a vaccine distribution. According to Berggren, there are as many as five vaccines from different companies that are working through the approval process.

SAN ANTONIO – There are dozens of coronavirus vaccines currently in development. According to AstraZeneca, a woman who received the experimental vaccine reported symptoms consistent with transverse myelitis, a rare inflammation of the spinal cord. The symptoms are neurological and Berggren said it’s hard to tell if they were caused by the vaccine. “And so to get, as a nation, 300 million people promptly vaccinated [for the coronavirus] is going to take some time. Related: Companies testing vaccines pledge safety, high standardsSan Antonio doctor leading Operation Warp Speed COVID-19 vaccine trialWatch KSAT Explains: A search for a COVID-19 below:

If you need help with the Public File, call 210-351-1241. Copyright © 2020 KSAT.com is managed by Graham Digital and pubished by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings.

SAN ANTONIO This week, Mayor Ron Nirenberg took to social media to remind San Antonians to be safe this holiday weekend fearing it could render another spike in coronavirus cases. Identify your Labor Day social bubbleThis is not the time to start expanding your social bubble, Dr. Berggren said the holiday weekend is a crucial time to keep your circle tight, socializing with only immediate family members or a few others who are similarly cautious. However, Dr. Berggren said as part of the citys coronavirus task force, schools should be flexible. With over 100 vaccines in development, Dr. Berggren says while that may happen, we wont know how effective it will be for quite some time. But Dr. Berggren says only about half of Americans get immunized.

SAN ANTONIO – During a Q&A on Thursday, Dr. Ruth Berggren, an infectious disease specialist from UT Health San Antonio’s Long School of Medicine, answered questions submitted by viewers. Can a face shield be worn instead of a face mask? “You’re worse off just wearing a face shield. She says face masks act as a barrier to “catch some of the big droplets that are coming at you if somebody sneezes.”Will the COVID-19 vaccine cause bad side effects? “And the reason I believe that is the progress that’s been made so far with the vaccine development and also with drug development.”

SAN ANONIO The City of San Antonio will be hosting a virtual town hall on Wednesday, Aug. 5 at 7 p.m. on the reopening of schools. The town hall will include a live discussion with co-chairs of the COVID-19 PreK-12 consultation group co-chaired by Dr. Junda Woo, the San Antonio medical director, and David Nungaray, the Bonham Academy principal. During the town hall, the city will also reveal the new school safety indicator that will be included on the citys COVID-19 dashboard. There will be several ways to watch the town hall including the citys website, Facebook page and TV channel. KSAT will also live stream the town hall.

MEDINA COUNTY, Texas – A Medina County doctor says he’s successfully helping COVID-19 patients recover with more ease with the use of supplements and medications, including melatonin. Melatonin is America’s most used sleep aid, but it should be taken with cautionMelatonin is known to help with sleep and inflammation. Since then, word has spread about the use of melatonin, and he’s been getting a lot of calls. Neel uses melatonin for those who are positive for the virus, but it does not kill the virus. “I’m actually getting more and more colleagues who actually have tried it.

SAN ANTONIO The City of San Antonio is working on adding a new warning indicator to its COVID-19 dashboard that could help parents who are trying to decide whether to send their children back into the classroom. How long is someone with COVID-19 contagious? Theres going to be a new indicator bar that has to do with how conditions are relative to the safety of going back to school, Berggren said. Therell be a red, yellow, green schematic. Its unclear when the new indicator of school safety will be added to the COVID-19 dashboard.

SAN ANTONIO Hospitalizations appear to be leveling off in the San Antonio area, according to a new COVID-19 projection model, but they remain high for at least another week. Latest Sg2 COVID-19 projection model on hospitalizations shows we have reached a 'high plateau.' The number of hospitalizations has decreased from 1,267 to 1,202 in the last four days, Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff said during Thursdays briefing. Why Texas health department removed thousands of COVID-19 cases from Bexar Countys tallyBerggren said the decrease in hospitalizations isnt significant enough to truly change anything. But we need to remain vigilant and continue what were doing to prevent further cases and to alleviate the stress on our health care workers, she said.

This back to school season parents are grappling with a big decision, whether to have their children learn in the classroom or at home. The coronavirus pandemic closed schools in early May forcing many teachers, students and families to adjust to remote learning. RELATED: Coalition of San Antonio parents, teachers advocate for remote learning for first 9 weeks of schoolOur first responsibility before we teach, before students can learn, they have to be safe. Berrgren believes the guidelines listed by the TEA can be enough to keep children safe in the classroom. San Antonio ISD said that more than two-thirds of parents said they didnt feel comfortable returning their children to the classroom.

SAN ANTONIO – A West Texas doctor is getting a lot of attention for his claims that the inhaled steroid budesonide is the “silver bullet” for COVID-19. Dr. Richard Bartlett, a general physician who practices at various clinics in the Midland-Odessa area says he’s had 100% success rate treating dozens of patients with the drug. Clips from his media interviews have gone viral on social media and some have speculated that other doctors are overlooking a cure. “It’s like this medicine was made for this pandemic,” Bartlett told News West 9. We ran this claim through our Trust Index and determined people should be careful.

SAN ANTONIO The latest prediction models show COVID-19 is near a peak in San Antonio, but its not entirely good news, according to Dr. Ruth Berggren, an infectious disease specialist at the UT Health San Antonios Long School of Medicine. Our Sg2 model is suggesting that we are just about at peak, but that we are going to stay at the peak, Berggren said. Berggren said the models take into account several things including, the population density of San Antonio, the dates restrictions were imposed and when restrictions were relaxed. Sg2's COVID-19 surge demand calculator weekly maximum ADC - San Antonio region (KSAT)Sg2's COVID-19 surge demand calculator weekly maximum ADC - San Antonio Region (KSAT)The good news is that the rate of hospitalizations doesnt seem to be increasing at a rate of 10% a day like it was in the previous weeks, according to Berggren. Berggren said that the models do include the possibility of more COVID-19 cases from the July 4 holiday but do not include hospitalizations.

Dr. Ruth Berggren, an infectious disease specialist at the UT Health San Antonios Long School of Medicine, told KSAT 12 News during an interview on Thursday that employers should follow certain protocols as the citys COVID-19 trend worsens. When an employee tests positive for the virus, she says, managers should tell people who may have been exposed. Berggren said work areas that an infected person came into contact with should be closed for at least 24 hours and deep cleaned. The City of San Antonio did not immediately respond to questions about a possible change in requirements for businesses following the uptick in cases. Here are the San Antonio Metro Health guidelinesWhich face mask should I be using?

SAN ANTONIO Editors note: This content was created exclusively for KSAT Explains, a new, weekly streaming show that dives deep into the biggest issues facing San Antonio and South Texas. In recent weeks, as temperatures climb to the highest theyve been all year, coronavirus cases have actually spiked in San Antonio. So, theres really been no benefit to us from this hot weather, Berggren said. And thats going to happen when two people are within 6 feet of each other for greater than 15 minutes. You will have fever from COVID(-19), Berggren said.

Infectious disease expert: COVID-19 and the weatherPublished: July 5, 2020, 10:13 amSarah Spivey chats with Dr. Ruth Berggren, an Infectious Disease Specialist with the Long School of Medicine at UT Health San Antonio, who clears up misconceptions about COVID-19 and the weather.

San Antonio hospitals are reaching capacity, as 87% of available staffed beds are currently in use. Only 13% of staffed hospitals beds are available. Experts have been concerned they might see a shortage in the antiviral drug remdesivir. Much of the supply at local hospitals came from the U.S. government. “This week we did run out of the drug remdesivir for a while.

SAN ANTONIO – *This article was initially published on UT Health San Antonio’s newsroom website and was republished on KSAT.com with permission from UT Health. “Imagine how many senior adults, cancer patients or transplant recipients were spared from contracting COVID-19,” Dr. Berggren said. Dr. Berggren recalled a story about a hair salon where workers, who later learned they were infected, cut patrons’ hair. “We protect others when we wear a mask,” Dr. Berggren said. The numbers, both in San Antonio and in the 15 states studied, show it.

SAN ANTONIO As the COVID-19 cases continue to surge in Bexar County, you may be wondering whether youve been exposed to the disease and when you should get tested. Dr. Ruth Berggren, an infectious disease specialist with the Long School of Medicine at UT Health San Antonio, answered those questions during a Q&A with KSAT on Thursday. Berggren said people with COVID-19 symptoms should get priority due to the number of people rushing to get tested right now. Berggren said that you should wait at least eight days after youve been exposed to COVID-19 before getting tested. RELATED: Coronavirus update San Antonio, June 25: Single largest daily increase of COVID-19 cases reported in Bexar County

SAN ANTONIO *This article was initially published on UT Health San Antonios newsroom website and was republished on KSAT.com with permission from UT Health. Tests will not be positive until there is an active infection, so testing too early could yield a false negative. COVID-19 tests are important tools for diagnosing infection, but there are limitations to any test, said Jason Bowling, MD, associate professor of infectious diseases. After exposure to someone with COVID-19, you are at potential risk for developing infection for 14 days after the exposure. Several testing sites are available throughout the San Antonio area and are listed on the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District website: List of Testing Locations in Bexar County.

Its probably low to moderate risk if the voter is wearing a mask and if everyone else is wearing a mask, said Patterson. Health experts and elections administrators also recommend voting early on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday, days when the polls usually see less traffic. Grocery ShoppingGrocery shopping can be relatively safe as long as people are wearing face coverings and staying socially distant when possible. As soon as you consume alcohol, your inhibitions are lowered and youre going to be less likely to observe all of these measures, said Berggren. This weeks episode of KSAT Explains will focus on the battle brewing across Texas over the proposed expansion of mail-in voting.

KSAT Q&A: Dr. Ruth Berggren talks about whether schools are ready to reopenPublished: June 18, 2020, 11:02 pmDr. Ruth Berggren discusses whether she believes schools are ready to reopen and the recommendations she says schools should follow

KSAT Q&A: Dr. Ruth Berggren gives June 18 COVID-19 updatePublished: June 18, 2020, 7:00 pmDr. Ruth Berggren talks about the importance of wearing a mask as the number of COVID-19 cases surge and what one model is predicting will happen to hospitals if we don't flatten the curve.

SAN ANTONIO If youre planning on attending a gathering this weekend to celebrate Fathers Day, Dr. Ruth Berggren, an infectious disease specialist with the Long School of Medicine at UT Health San Antonio, is hoping you think twice about it. On Thursday, Bexar County and San Antonio added 408 new COVID-19 cases, yet another big jump. RELATED: Bexar County COVID-19 cases surpass 5,500The rise in hospitalizations is what has the city, county and the medical field concerned. Pictured is a graph showing the number of COVID-19 cases increasing in Bexar County. Our bed capacity in San Antonio is 1,400, so that means that after July 20, we are going to exceed our current bed capacity.

KSAT Q&A- Dr. Ruth Berggren with the Long School of Medicine & UT Health San Antonio talks about the spread of coronavirus in San AntonioPublished: June 11, 2020, 6:47 pmKSAT Q&A- Dr. Ruth Berggren with the Long School of Medicine & UT Health San Antonio talks about the spread of coronavirus in San Antonio

Its a question many KSAT viewers have asked if it can be used as a disinfectant so we ran it through our KSAT Trust Index. Dr Berggren said hydrogen peroxide can in fact kill COVID-19, but that doesn't mean it's the best thing to use. So when it comes to using hydrogen peroxide as a COVID-19 disinfectant the KSAT trust index labels it, "Be Careful." Read our latest Trust Index stories:Trust Index: The flu shot does not increase your risk of getting COVID-19Trust Index: Do vitamin deficiencies make you more susceptible to COVID-19? Trust Index: Despite what you see on Facebook, H-E-B is not imposing age limits in its storesKSAT Trust Index: Do San Antonio hospitals have enough personal protective equipment?

SAN ANTONIO Its a claim thats been circulating for weeks: getting the flu shot will increase your risk of getting COVID-19. Two renowned local doctors gave the same definitive answer and then explained why it's never been more important to get the flu shot. The flu shot will help prevent you from getting the flu," said Dr. Ruth Berggren with UT Health San Antonio Long School of Medicine. That message comes alongside an important reminder: the flu shot does not give you the flu. Read our latest Trust Index stories:Trust Index: Do vitamin deficiencies make you more susceptible to COVID-19?

So we ran it through our KSAT Trust Index, asking two local medical experts. That doesnt mean someone should go and start gobbling vitamin D. You can overdose on vitamin D. You should follow guidelines. If you have a claim, video or picture youd like KSAT to check out, submit it to the KSAT Trust Index website. KSAT Trust Index: Do San Antonio hospitals have enough personal protective equipment? Trust Index: Despite what you see on Facebook, H-E-B is not imposing age limits in its storesTrust Index: Can disinfectant injections and sunlight kill coronavirus?

SAN ANTONIO – President Donald Trump has said he is taking hydroxychloroquine, a drug commonly used to treat lupus or malaria, as a preventive measure to battle COVID-19. KSAT viewers wanted us to ask local Doctor Ruth Berggren from UT Health, “Is this a good idea”? “We only use prescription medication when we know that the benefits are going to outweigh the risks and the public needs to know the risks of hydroxychloroquine are not trivial,” Berggren said. Until that happens, I do not recommend that people take this drug,” Berggren said. Watch anchor Steve Spriester ask local leaders your questions weeknights at 6 p.m. on KSAT12 and 9 p.m. on KSAT-TV and KSAT.com.

Coronavirus SAQ: Dr. Ruth Berggren talks about the reopening of San AntonioIf you need help with the Public File, call 210-351-1241.

With multiple coronavirus outbreaks at local nursing homes, one KSAT viewer asked Dr. Berggren:Why is the death toll from the virus so high in nursing homes? “People in nursing homes, as you know, aren’t just older, they frequently have multiple underlying medical conditions that make somebody vulnerable,” Berggren said. She said most nursing homes don’t have many private bedrooms or bathrooms. Related Content:Another increased risk factor in nursing homes is the mobility of caregivers. Berggren also compared nursing homes to the Bexar County jail.

Coronavirus SAQ: Dr. Ruth Berggren from UT Health San Antonio talks about the impact of coronavirus in San AntonioIf you need help with the Public File, call 210-351-1241.

SAN ANTONIO – Governor Greg Abbott gave Texas restaurants the green light to open dining room doors with some restrictions beginning Friday, May 1. She says San Antonio has not met the criteria that the health transition team determined is necessary to reopen public spaces and business. RELATED: Some San Antonio businesses not opening Friday due to safety, financial reasonsStill, under the governor’s new plan, restaurants will be allowed to open at 25% capacity. Dr. Berggren says if you choose to dine at a restaurant there are some things to look for to be as safe as possible:The restaurant must have disposable menus -- menus should not be passed person to person. The restaurant staff should be implementing social distancing standards as people walk through the door and tables should be spaced at least six feet apart.

If you need help with the Public File, call 210-351-1241. Copyright © 2020 KSAT.com is managed by Graham Digital and pubished by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings.

SAN ANTONIO – SAQ: I tested positive for the coronavirus and am in self-isolation. Doctor Ruth Berggren, Director of the Center for Medical Humanities and Ethics, says this depends on whether you show symptoms of the virus. Patients with symptoms should spend a minimum of seven days in self-isolation. You can read more about the recommendations for isolating with COVID-19 on the Centers for Disease Control website. Click here to watch the full Q&A segments with Dr. Berggren.

SAN ANTONIO – Doctor Ruth Berggren is the Director for Medical Humanities and Ethics with UT Health and is part of the city and county’s transition task force. The group is made up of public health officials and medical experts developing a plan to safely get San Antonio back to “normal.”“We strongly believe that human health and economic well-being are tightly linked and we prioritize human life in the face of this pandemic,” Berggren said. With talk about the state reopening or loosening restrictions on businesses, viewers wanted to know ‘is there a plan if COVID-19 cases rise after opening businesses too soon?’Dr. Berggren says yes, “as we monitor and evaluate the outcome of our plan, we’re going to have to recognize that if cases are going up in a certain sector, we’re going to have to pull back within that sector and impose more strict behaviors, more strict restrictions.”WATCH the full interview with Dr. Berggren below:

SAN ANTONIO – SAQ: What is immunity testing and is it going to be available in San Antonio? According to Doctor Ruth Berggren with the Long School of Medicine at UT Health San Antonio, immunity is the body’s ability to fight off illnesses. There is now testing to see whether someone is making enough antibodies to fight off the new coronavirus. ICYMI: Local scientists studying levels of immunity in COVID-19 survivorsDr. Berggren said “we won’t know exactly what it means right off the bat. Dr. Berggren said the test has been approved by the Federal Drug Administration and will be available in San Antonio within in the next two weeks.