COVID-19 cases on Space Coast double since last Florida Health Department report
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COVID-19 cases nearly doubled in the span of one week on the Space Coast, according to Florida Department of Health data released Friday.
Though FDOH now releases figures on a bi-weekly basis, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention case rates are updated weekly.
Last week, there were 70.1 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 population, according to CDC data. This week, FDOH data shows that COVID-19 cases rose to 142 cases per 100,000 population from April 29 to May 5. This means that there were 868 cases on the Space Coast, according to the FDOH. And of those who took a COVID-19 test, 9.3% tested positive. Last week, the CDC reported that the case positivity was 7.3%.
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.
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Though Brevard County is still considered a community of low transmission, according to CDC guidelines, more counties in Florida moved into the medium transmission category this past week, according to a CDC community level map.
The CDC calculates transmission levels through a combination of hospitalizations and case rates. If case rates and hospitalizations continue to increase on the Space Coast, Brevard County may soon join Miami-Dade, Charlotte, Sarasota and Desoto Counties as a community of medium transmission.
This comes against the backdrop of the New York Times reporting Friday that the White House is preparing for the possibility that 100 million Americans — roughly 30% of the U.S. population — will get infected with the coronavirus this fall and winter.
That said, hospitalizations decreased on the Space Coast by 9.40%, according to a CDC data tracker. The data shows that there were 23 confirmed COVID-19 hospital admissions countywide from April 28 to May 4.
Deaths also decreased since the week prior: from April 23 to April 30 there were four COVID-19 related deaths on the Space Coast, according to provisional CDC data. The week prior to that, six people died of COVID-19. Since the start of the pandemic 1,991 people have died of COVID-19 in Brevard County.
Though the death rate and the hospitalization rate decreased, experts have warned throughout the pandemic that deaths and hospitalizations increase after two weeks of a surge. Public health experts have also continuously emphasized that the best way to protect against a pandemic is to mask-up, test and vaccinate.
Yet, the vacation rate has not budged since January, 70% of eligible residents— those ages five and older— have been vaccinated as of May 5.
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, 59% vaccinated.
Ages 20-29, 63% vaccinated.
Ages 30-39, 72% vaccinated.
Ages 40-49, 79% vaccinated.
Ages 50-59, 83% vaccinated.
Ages 60-64, 89% vaccinated.
Ages 65+, 95% vaccinated.
Statewide, there was a new case positivity rate of 9.0% and 150.1 cases per 100,000 population from April 29 to May 5. Over the course of the last two weeks, there were 230 more COVID-19 related deaths in Florida. Since the start of the pandemic, 74,060 Floridians have died of COVID-19.
Nationwide, 70.4% of eligible Americans have been fully vaccinated. There have been 81,574,159 COVID-19 cases and 994,511 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, 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: COVID cases up in Brevard County, vaccination rate unchanged
