Most of South Florida is in at “high risk” for COVID-19 according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), with Okeechobee, Hendry, Glades, Collier and Desoto counties at medium risk.

The CDC uses a combination of factors including new hospital admissions for covid, availability of ICU beds, percent of hospital beds occupied by covid patients and the new case positivity rates to determine the risk level for each county.

The CDC advises everyone to: Stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccinations; get tested if you have symptoms; and, wash your hands thoroughly and frequently. Those in areas of medium risk are also advised to talk to your health care provider about whether you need to wear a mask. Those in high risk areas are additionally advised that additional precautions may be needed for those at risk for severe illness.

According to Florida Department of Health report issued June 17 for the previous week (June 10-16), Florida had a new case positivity rate of 17.2%. Since the start of the pandemic, 75,098 covid-related deaths have been reported in Florida.

• Collier County had a 17.4% new positivity rate, with 862 new cases for the week.
• Glades County had 11 new cases and a new case positivity rate of 15.3%.
• Hendry County ha 60 new cases and a new case positivity rate of 8.0%.
• Highlands County had 267 new cases and a new case positivity rate of 17.1%.
• Martin County had 386 new cases and a new case positivity rate of 15.7% 
• Okeechobee County had 73 new cases and a new case positivity rate of 11.8%.
• Palm Beach County had 4,630 new cases and a new case positivity rate of 17.4%.

According to FDOH, 74% of Florida residents over the age of 5 have been vaccinated against COVID-19. While vaccination does not prevent infection, it decreases the chances of serious illness and death.