As 2023 begins, COVID-19 cases are rising, though data does not reflect as sharp of a spike as in previous years.
In the 12-county Trauma Service Area that includes Corpus Christi, 100 patients were hospitalized for COVID-19 on Tuesday. That’s just over 7% of total hospital capacity, double the percentage seen for much of the spring and summer, but not as high as this time last year, when COVID-19 patients accounted for nearly a quarter of local hospital capacity.
“Based on past trends, we anticipated a rise in cases this winter with increased holiday travel and family coming together,” Corpus Christi-Nueces County Public Health District Director Fauzia Khan said.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the virus that causes COVID-19 is constantly changing and mutating over time and new variants of the virus are expected to emerge.
CDC genetic testing of the virus shows that the majority of cases in the U.S. in recent months are lineages of the omicron variant, including growing percentages of the BQ.1, BQ.1.1 and XBB.1.5 lineages.
The XBB.1.5 lineage is the most transmissible form of omicron yet, according to the World Health Organization. But the CDC’s COVID-19 guidance on preventing serious illness remains the same, including seeking vaccinations and avoiding contact with those who are sick or experiencing symptoms.
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Both the Texas Department of State Health Services and the local health district share case counts online weekly.
Early this fall, new cases in Nueces County were low, in the single digits for days in October. But in November, cases rose. Since Jan. 1, between 21 and 72 new confirmed cases have been reported each day, along with dozens of probable cases.
In comparison, hundreds of new cases were reported in Nueces County each day during January 2022, including more than 1,200 on Jan. 21, according to the state COVID-19 dashboard.
But, Khan said, health officials can only track cases that are reported to them, and the data might not reflect all cases.
“Now more people are testing themselves at home, and we don’t have that information,” Khan said.
To address this, the health district encourages the community to submit at-home COVID-19 test results online at https://us2.quickscreen.health/cc-home-covid-test#/screening.
Additionally, testing remains available at the health district at 1702 Horne Road on Mondays from 8 to 10 a.m.
Khan said the health district continues to see community interest in COVID-19 tracking and prevention, with residents coming in for vaccinations and boosters.
The health district has also stocked its new mobile health clinic, launched last month to visit small communities and rural areas, to provide COVID-19 vaccinations, along with other health services.
To find a vaccination location, visit https://www.vaccines.gov/.
The mobile health clinic’s schedule of visits is posted online at https://www.cctexas.com/mobilehealth. The clinic will visit Driscoll on Jan. 25 and has visits to Bishop planned for Feb. 8 and Feb. 22.
The health district can also visit businesses or organizations upon request to provide free COVID-19 vaccinations. Those interested can request a visit online or by calling the health district at 361-826-7200.
“The health district is using a more proactive approach,” Khan said. “We are reaching out to organizations and businesses, small and large, and we are asking them if there is a need in their organization. If there is a need, we can send a strike team to their location.”
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