COVID-19 cases see small rise but Brevard County still a community of high transmission
COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations on the Space Coast saw minor increases over the last week, according to the latest available Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data.
From June 16 to June 22, Brevard County had 1,836 total COVID-19 cases. This means that there were about 305 cases per 100,000 population. And of the people who took a COVID-19 test, 22.11% tested positive. Last week, the Florida Department of Health reported 301.5 cases per 100,000 population and a test positivity rate of about 16%.
The CDC variant tracker also shows that 99% of cases are from the omicron variant. However, there could be far more infections in the community than is tracked because at-home test kit results go unreported and not everyone who is symptomatic takes a COVID-19 test.
Hospitalizations increased in tandem with case rates last week.
CDC data shows that 81 people were hospitalized on the Space Coast for COVID-19 from June 21 to June 15. Two weeks ago, from June 1 to June 7, there were 78 hospitalizations.
While the CDC did not update its weekly COVID-19 deaths database, last weeks update showed that there have been 2,006 COVID-19 related deaths in Brevard County.
Because hospitalization and case rates this past week remained elevated Brevard County is still a community of high COVID-19 transmission. The CDC calculates transmission levels through a combination of hospitalizations and case rates.
The CDC advises that in communities of high transmission, residents should mask-up indoors, vaccinate and take a COVID-19 test when feeling unwell.
Yet, just 68.5% of the eligible Space Coast population— those ages five and older— have been fully vaccinated.
Nationwide, 70.9% of eligible Americans have been fully vaccinated. There have been 86,512,787 COVID-19 cases and 1,010, deaths nationwide since the start of the pandemic.
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.
Melbourne clinic, 601 E. University Blvd.
Titusville clinic, 611 N. Singleton Ave.
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.
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: CDC: Cases and hospitalizations see slight uptick in Brevard County
