New covid cases on the rise in Florida

New positivity rate more than doubles in one week

Posted 12/27/21

COVID-19 cases sharply increased in Florida last week. For the week of Dec. 17-23, covid positivity rates were up, with new positivity in Florida at 13.8% compared to 5.4% previous week.

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New covid cases on the rise in Florida

New positivity rate more than doubles in one week

Posted

COVID-19 cases sharply increased in Florida last week.
For the week of Dec. 17-23, covid positivity rates were up, with new positivity in Florida at 13.8% compared to 5.4% the previous week.

As of the Dec. 23 report from the Florida Department of Health, 71% of Floridians over the age of 5 have been vaccinated.

Florida vaccination rates by age group are:
• 5-11: 14%,
•12-19: 58%,
• 20-29: 59%,
• 30-39: 69%,
• 40-49: 77%,
• 50-59: 82%,
• 60-64: 88%,
• 65+: 90%.

Vaccination rates in South Central Florida, as of Dec. 23 were:
• Collier County - 75%,
• Glades County - 52%,
• Hendry County - 57%,
• Highlands County - 61%,
• Martin County - 67%,
• Okeechobee County - 49%,
• Palm Beach County - 73%.

New case positivity rates in South Central Florida, as of Dec. 23 were:
• Collier County - 10.4% (compared to 3.9%, previous week)

• Glades County - 14.2% (compared to 3.9%, previous week),
• Hendry County - 8.1% (compared to 3.1%, previous week),
• Highlands County - 6.8% (compared to 3.1%, previous week),
• Martin County - 10.9% (compared to 3.8% previous week),
• Okeechobee County - 7.1% (compared to 2.1% previous week),
• Palm Beach County - 17.1% (compared to 6.5% previous week).

New cases in South Central Florida, for the week of Dec. 17-23 were:
• Collier County -1,144 (compared to 295, previous week),
• Glades County - 17 (compared to 3, previous week).
• Hendry County - 65 (compared to 18, previous week),
• Highlands County - 140 (compared to 50, previous week),
• Martin County - 443 (compared to 106, previous week),
• Okeechobee County - 39 (compared to 8, previous week)
• Palm Beach County - 11,860 (compared to 2,445 previous week).

New covid hospitalizations last week were:
• Collier County: 25;
• Glades County: 0;
• Hendry County: 0;
• Highlands County: 11;
• Martin County: 19;
• Okeechobee County: 2;
• Palm Beach County 128.

The CDC recommends that:

• Everyone 5 years and older protects themselves by getting fully vaccinated.
• Everyone ages 18 years and over gets a COVID-19 booster dose.
• Teens 16–17 years old who received Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines can get a booster dose.
• Immunocompromised people talk with their healthcare professional about additional primary doses and booster doses following the primary series.

Vaccinations are free and available through county health departments and at most pharmacies. To find a vaccination site near you, go online to www.vaccines.gov.

As of Dec. 23, Florida deaths related to COVID-19 totaled 62,342, an increaes of 143 deaths since Dec. 16. Total deaths be age group were:
• Under 16: 31,
• 16-29: 438,
• 39-39: 1,152,
• 40-49: 2,778,
• 50-59: 6,327,
• 60-64: 5,144,
• 65+: 46,474.

The World Health Organization (WHO) reminds individuals “to take measures to reduce their risk of COVID-19, including proven public health and social measures such as wearing well-fitting masks, hand hygiene, physical distancing, improving ventilation of indoor spaces, avoiding crowded spaces and getting vaccinated.”

According to the CDC: “Vaccines remain the best public health measure to protect people from COVID-19, slow transmission and reduce the likelihood of new variants emerging. COVID-19 vaccines are highly effective at preventing severe illness, hospitalizations and death. Scientists are currently investigating Omicron, including how protected fully vaccinated people will be against infection, hospitalization and death. CDC recommends that everyone 5 years and older protect themselves from COVID-19 by getting fully vaccinated. CDC recommends that everyone ages 18 years and older should get a booster shot at least two months after their initial J&J/Janssen vaccine or six months after completing their primary COVID-19 vaccination series of Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna.”

Masks offer some protection against all variants. CDC continues to recommend wearing a mask in public indoor settings in areas of substantial or high community transmission, regardless of vaccination status.

The CDC advises, self-tests can be used at home or anywhere, are easy to use, and produce rapid results. If your self-test has a positive result, stay home or isolate for 10 days, wear a mask if you have contact with others, and call your healthcare provider. If you have any questions about your self-test result, call your healthcare provider or public health department.

masks, CDC, Covid-19

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