COVID cases

Drive-thru testing available amid short supply of in-home tests

While Southeast Texas residents seeking a COVID-19 test have several drive-thru options, from family owned pharmacies to national and global chains, purchasing rapid and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests is more problematic. “PCR has a whole lot higher sensitivity than rapid tests.

Safety guidance changes as Omicron cases climb

With COVID-19 case confirmations on a continued climb in the first two weeks of 2022 thanks to the exceedingly contagious Omicron variant, scores of Southeast Texans have no doubt been exposed in the not-so-distant past.

Texas confirms COVID-19 Omicron variant case

Dec. 6, the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) announced that the first known Texas case of the COVID-19 B.1.1.529 (aka the Omicron strand) variant has been identified in a resident of Harris County. The adult female resident was recently diagnosed with COVID-19.

COVID case trend continues downward descent

For the second straight week, Southeast Texas officials reported a downward trend in positive COVID-19 cases, along with a drop in hospitalizations, but still urge caution and vaccination ahead of the impending holiday season and the gatherings it entices.