COVID-19 cases continue to rise on Space Coast
COVID-19 cases continue to increase on the Space Coast but experts caution the official numbers are probably lower than what's actually out there. Still, they note, the current increase represents a climb not a surge— and that's a good thing.
Florida Department of Health data showed that there were 68.2 cases per 100,000 population between April 15 and April 21. Last week's CDC figures showed that between April 7 and April 13, there were 51.67 cases per 100,000 population on the Space Coast. FDOH data also found that of the recorded COVID-19 tests taken from April 15 to April 21, 5.6% came back positive.
Todd Husty, an EMS director in Seminole County, described the current increase as more of a ‘climb’ than a ‘surge’ because cases are not trending upward exponentially like they were during January’s omicron (BA.1) surge or last summer's delta surge when each week saw a doubling or tripling of cases.
However, according to Husty and John Davis, community health nursing director of FDOH-Brevard, there could be much more disease circulating than is recorded.
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Because at home test kit results go unreported and not everyone who is symptomatic will take a COVID-19 test, case numbers may not be the most accurate representation of how much disease is actually in the community, Husty said.
Waste water samples that are tested for COVID-19 provide a more accurate view.
Brevard County’s waste water testing site in Cape Canaveral showed that on April 7 there were 447,6650 copies of virus per liter— about four times the rate it had been on March 17 when there were 54,950 Copies of virus per liter.
“BA.2 is much more communicable than BA.1 which was much more communicable than delta which was much easier to get than the other previous variants...this things is so easy to get, ” Husty said. “It’s one of the easiest respiratory viruses in the world to get now.”
According to Husty, delta was nearly as infectious as the measles, omicron (BA.1) is as infectious as the measles. The omicron subvariant (BA.2) that currently comprises 74.4% of all cases in the United States according to the CDC, is twice as infectious as the measles.
But, the good news? According to Husty and the data, it’s not causing as severe an illness. When comparing the ‘severity of illness’ created by the omicron subvariant, it’s less than it’s parent variant omicron BA.1, and much less severe than the delta variant.
However, this doesn’t mean that risk of hospitalization isn’t still a factor, said Husty. But it’s “far, far less.”
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According to Health First spokesperson Lance Skelly, as of April 22, there were 11 inpatient COVID-19 hospitalizations 4 of which are in the ICU. Countywide, CDC data shows that there were 15 COVID-19 hospitalizations as of April 20; making for a 26.7% increase in hospitalizations since the prior week, according to a CDC analysis of the data.
Though hospitalizations rates have remained low compared to the overwhelming number of hospitalizations during the delta variant, Husty said, “we still don’t have enough people in the world with immunity to make it really go away” and “we still have a fairly contagious respiratory virus that is causing disease.”
From April 9 to April 16, there were seven COVID-19 related deaths on the Space Coast, according to provisional CDC data. Since the start of the pandemic, 1,981 residents on the Space Coast have died of COVID-19.
Experts agree the best way to protect against getting the disease and spreading it to more vulnerable people is to get vaccinated, get boosted and wear a mask— specifically an N95 mask— in crowded places.
Currently 70% of eligible people— those ages five and older—in Brevard County have received at least one dose of a vaccine, according to FDOH data. While FDOH does not provide how many Space Coast residents are fully vaccinated and boosted, and both health entities measure vaccination rates differently, the CDC data tracker shows that 67.8% of those ages five and older are fully vaccinated.
According to FDOH, of the eligible population in Florida, age group vaccination rates across the state are:
Ages 5-11, 23% vaccinated.
Ages 12-19, 60% vaccinated.
Ages 20-29, 62% vaccinated.
Ages 30-39, 72% vaccinated.
Ages 40-49, 79% vaccinated.
Ages 50-59, 83% vaccinated.
Ages 60-64, 90% vaccinated.
Ages 65+, 95% vaccinated.
Statewide, there was a new case positivity rate of 6.1% and 94.9 cases per 100,000 population from April 15 to April 21. Over the course of the last two weeks, there have been 292 more COVID-19 related deaths in Florida. Since the start of the pandemic, 73,830 Floridians have died of COVID-19.
Nationwide, 70.2% of eligible Americans have been fully vaccinated. There have been 80,648,481 COVID-19 cases and 987,601 deaths nationwide since the start of the pandemic.
“We are over this virus. Unfortunately, the virus is not over with us,” Husty said.
Where to get tested:
The following Brevard County Emergency Management Office-supported sites are available for COVID-19 testing.
Florida Department of Health-Brevard, 2555 Judge Fran Jamison Way, Viera; 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. This is a walk-up site. Preregister at nomihealth.com.
Parrish Medical Center, 951 N. Washington Ave., Titusville; 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Sunday. This is a drive-thru site. No appointments are required.
Testing also is available to established or new Omni Healthcare patients at its offices in Brevard County. To book an appointment, patients can call their Omni doctor's office.
Various other urgent-care centers, private physicians' offices and pharmacies also provide COVID-19 tests, and some retailers sell in-home test kits. Additionally, the website www.211Brevard.org has a list of sites offering testing. Some of those sites require reservations, while others allow walk-ins.
Where to get vaccinated:
The Florida Department of Health is offering COVID-19 vaccines at three sites.
Viera clinic, at 2555 Judge Fran Jamieson Way, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays. Those ages 5-11 can get vaccinated only from 8 to 11:30 a.m. and 1 to 4 p.m. Monday to Friday.
Melbourne clinic, 601 E. University Blvd., 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays. Those ages 5-11 can get vaccinated only from 1:30 to 4 p.m. on Friday.
Titusville clinic, 611 N. Singleton Ave., 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays. Those ages 5-11 can get vaccinated only from 1:30 to 4 p.m. on Friday.
Residents also can get vaccinated at Omni Healthcare's offices, as well as at its walk-in vaccination clinic located in Suite 303 on the third floor of 1344 S. Apollo Blvd. in Melbourne, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays. Vaccinations also are available from 9 a.m. to noon in Suite 2C of Omni's 1344 S. Apollo Blvd. complex.
Walk-ins are accepted. But appointments can be made by calling 321-802-5515 or by emailing the request and including a name and phone number to COVID@OMNIhealthcare.com.
COVID-19 vaccines also are available at pharmacies at various local CVS, Publix, Sam’s Club, Walgreens, Walmart and Winn-Dixie stores, as well as some urgent-care centers and physician offices. Check the individual site for appointment requirements and vaccine availability.
Amira Sweilem is the data reporter at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Sweilem at 386-406-5648 or asweilem@floridatoday.com.
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This article originally appeared on Florida Today: BA2 subvariant brings increase in COVID cases in Brevard County
