Positive COVID-19 and Variant Cases on the Rise
Kerrville, TX – As COVID and COVID variants ramp up, Peterson Health continues to lead communication efforts to keep the public informed of local statistics and trends, but more importantly to provide resources to educate the community.
According to Pam Burton, Infection Prevention RN for Peterson Health, as of Wednesday, July 28th, twenty-five (25) patients were hospitalized with COVID-19 at Peterson Regional Medical Center. This represents a 625% increase in admissions since July 1st, hitting a new record since January. All twenty-five (25) of those patients hospitalized were not vaccinated.
Shares Cory Edmondson, President and CEO of Peterson Health, “We are experiencing a surge in positive COVID -19 cases and we have cases of the Delta variant. These patients are far more ill and require a higher level of care than patients we have seen over the past year and a half. As we are witnessing a rise in cases across Kerr and surrounding counties with the data showing that many of these new cases are people who have not been vaccinated, we cannot emphasize enough how important it is to get vaccinated.” Reports show that the longer people stay unvaccinated the more chance a virus has to mutate.
Vaccines across Kerr County and surrounding areas are readily available. Anyone unvaccinated is encouraged to research the best option and educate themselves on the specific doses, side effects, and benefits. Whether selecting the Moderna, Pfizer, or Johnson & Johnson vaccine, getting vaccinated will not only protect people from the likelihood of becoming positive, but will significantly reduce the spread of COVID and its variants.
Peterson Health continues to administer COVID vaccines at Peterson Urgent Care. Currently, we are offering the Johnson & Johnson or Moderna vaccines. Appointments can be made by calling (830) 258-7373, select Option 2, with openings Tuesday and Thursdays from 7:30-8:30 am and 4:30-5:30 pm, or Saturdays between 8:00-9:00 am.
Peterson Health actively features current news updates, trusted resources, and community education on their website at www.petersonhealth.com, with a recently refreshed FAQ to include important myths and misunderstandings regarding vaccines.
Concludes Burton, “We encourage the public to visit our site daily to stay up-to-date with local trends and recommendations, as well as changes in hospital visitation and healthcare mandates as warranted in this ever-changing and fluid situation.”