The Department of Human Services’ San Antonio Youth Commission and the Metropolitan Health District’s Project Worth Teen Ambassadors have opened the third annual teen mental health survey.

The last few weeks have been some of the most dangerous in terms of heat-related illnesses in San Antonio, according to the latest data from the city health department.

Universal City Police arrested a 20-year-old airman Wednesday on a felony charge of injury to a child, prompting the Metropolitan Health District to share information and resources to help with parenting.

San Antonio has received 1,000 doses of the Jynneos monkeypox vaccine to help combat the growing outbreak.

A public memorial service is being planned for Dr. Fernando Guerra, the former director of the Metropolitan Health District for 23 years before his retirement in 2010.

San Antonio’s COVID-19 risk level has increased to “severe” and “worsening” in the first few days of January 2022 due to the omicron variant.

The Metropolitan Health District will begin offering the Pfizer vaccine booster shot at the Alamodome to those who are eligible for added protection against COVID-19.

San Antonio’s Metropolitan Health District will begin handing out $100 H-E-B gift cards in an effort to boost arm jabs.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has given more than $190 million total to the state health department and Texas jurisdictions to address health and economic inequalities that have been amplified during the coronavirus pandemic.

AdShe said it would help given that some may find it more difficult than others to access the information. Garcia Rocha said she had a similar problem trying to access the translation for University Health’s website on her iPhone. A spokeswoman for University Health said it’s working on a website in both English and Spanish that would not require translation services. AdIn addition to its bilingual operators who assist with vaccine reservations, WellMed also has a Spanish-language website. RELATED: How to register for the COVID-19 vaccine in San Antonio when appointments are available

SAN ANTONIO – Bexar County Precinct 3 Commissioner Trish DeBerry and three San Antonio city council members who represent areas on the North Side are calling on the Metropolitan Health District and the Bexar County Hospital District to co-manage a COVID-19 vaccination site in the northern part of the county. Within the next week, Texas is expected to receive 200,000 doses of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, which recently received emergency authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. DeBerry says the shipment gives the city and county an opportunity to create a new vaccination site. District 8, 9 and 10 council members Manny Pelaez, John Courage and Clayton Perry, joined Deberry to request a new vaccination site in north Bexar County. “The current vaccination clinics are failing in their intended goal of vaccinating the most underserved populations.

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 – Dr. Colleen Bridger, assistant city manager of San Antonio and the Metropolitan Health District’s interim director, has notified City Manager Eric Walsh that she will be leaving her post in January. Bridger had initially planned to leave the city in mid-July to launch a private consulting business. However, she took over as interim director of Metro Health after director Dr. Bridger had served as Metro Health director between March 2017 and July 2019 before being appointed assistant city manager. Walsh issued the following statement after the announcement of Bridger’s departure:“Colleen has done an outstanding job while facing extraordinarily challenges.

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.

Viewers can now watch a live view of nearly 250 penguins from four different species at SeaWorld San Antonio. In this week’s KSAT Kids' student spotlight, we highlight a 17-year-old who was chosen as the KSAT12 Fiesta medal design winner. And for students seeking additional schooling help, the San Antonio Public Library is offering resources to help with their lessons. Student activitiesPenguin Cam: Chill with the penguins at SeaWorld San Antonio with 24/7 livestreamSeaWorld San Antonio and KSAT are teaming up to bring you what we all need this year - a little happiness. Penguins from SeaWorld San Antonio hang out on KSAT's 24/7 penguin cam.

San Antonio area school districts received some positive news this week when the Metropolitan Health District lowered its school safety indicator to green -- meaning the city’s positivity rate has now dipped below 5%. And for those students still seeking additional schooling help, the San Antonio Public Library is offering back-to-school resources to help with their lessons. Pickleball junior singles national champion, Wyatt Stone, is determined to grow sportDo you know a classroom or school that is doing amazing work and deserves to be featured in KSAT Kids? KSAT Kids Home Science: How to make alien monster eggs10 ways to celebrate Halloween in San Antonio while social distancingHow can you celebrate Halloween safely in the San Antonio area? (iStockphoto.com/(sjlocke))San Antonio students can score prizes with Spurs What’cha Reading ProgramTeachers in San Antonio and the surrounding areas can now register their classes as part of this year’s Spurs What’cha Reading program, which will take place starting Oct. 19.

SAN ANTONIO – The coronavirus pandemic hasn’t canceled Halloween in San Antonio, but revelers need to take precautions for a safe spooky season, according to the Metropolitan Health District. Metro Health released guidelines for residents on how to party, trick-or-treat and hand out candy safely for the first holiday of the fall season. Metro Health trick-or-treating guidelines (COSA/Bexar County)Adult Halloween parties are safer when outdoors and in small groups, according to guidelines. “Make the right decisions now to do what’s best for your health and the health of others. Since the beginning of the pandemic, San Antonio has logged 64,941 total COVID-19 cases and 1,247 total deaths.

SAN ANTONIO The Metropolitan Health District is warning people in an Antonio to be aware of scammers who are posing as contact tracers for the city and trying to obtain personal information. Scammers have reportedly been asking for personal information like a social security number or credit card number, according to city officials. While real contact tracers are making phone calls, and the city urges you to answer any calls that come from a number starting with 210-207, Metro Health said staff will never ask for a social security number, any kind of personal banking information or any form of payment. If you have tested positive for COVID-19 and are contacted by a Metro Health contact tracer, he/she will ask you to provide information like your name, date of birth, address and where you were in an effort to help notify people who might need to quarantine to help prevent further spread of the virus. If you were a contact to a known case, staff will contact you to inform you of this potential exposure, explain the importance of staying home during the days you could develop the infection and how to contact us to be tested, Metro Health officials 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.

SAN ANTONIO San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg is working hard to keep his message focused on the need to mask up and socially distance, but discrepancies over COVID-19 data make it hard to do that. Metro Health also announced there is a discrepancy between the states COVID-19 death count and the citys death count. San Antonios COVID-19 dashboard reports 406 deaths. Nirenberg said when Metro Health reports a positive case or a COVID-19 related death, officials want to make sure that the numbers are factual. Metro Health is investigating all deaths reported by the state of Texas.

SAN ANTONIO The CIty of San Antonio has added COVID-19 testing resources at its testing sites amid the high demand. Jennifer Herriott, the deputy director of the Metropolitan Health District, said Wednesday that city-facilitated coronavirus testing sites are now conducting antigen testing through mouth swabs in addition to the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test which is done with nasal swabs. Should you get a COVID-19 test? Health officials use two types of tests to diagnose active cases of the new coronavirus: polymerase chain reaction diagnostic (PCR) tests and antigen tests, according to UT Health San Antonio. On Monday, the city said its free testing sites would only accept people exhibiting symptoms of the virus.

Metro Health conducting asymptomatic studyPublished: June 2, 2020, 10:36 pmDr. Dawn Emerick, director of the Metropolitan Health District, said the health authority is conducting an asymptomatic study and testing people in random households who consent.

SAN ANTONIO – Metropolitan Health District officials are warning about the dangers of the malaria drug hydroxychloroquine after reports that President Donald Trump said he is taking it to prevent the novel coronavirus. Dr. Junda Woo, medical director of the Metro Health, advises against taking the drug for COVID-19. Trump attacks study, defends using malaria drug for COVID-19“We don't have conclusive science right now to show that it helps,” Woo said, adding that taking the drug could yield dangerous side effects. She isn’t saying the drug could not have an effect on the coronavirus, but it's too early to tell. Woo said it is promising to see that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration gave emergency use authorization for the drug remdesivir.

SAN ANTONIO – In response to growing concerns over the novel coronavirus in San Antonio, the Metropolitan Health District and the Alamo Asian American Chamber of Commerce hosted an educational panel about the virus. The point of the “Coronavirus: What you should know” discussion was to educate the public amid rumors and misinformation. San Antonio: CDC planned to drop cruise passengers at mallResidents can call (210) 207-5779 during weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. According to the CDC, these symptoms include:Mild to severe respiratory illnessFeverCoughShortness of breathThe symptoms of coronavirus are similar to the flu. As you would with any other illness, make sure you wash your hands consistently and avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands, CDC officials say.