COVID cases climbing in Leon County; hospitalizations remain low

Ana Goñi-Lessan, Tallahassee Democrat
·2 min read

Leon County is seeing an uptick in COVID-19 cases, but hospitalizations remain low.

In the past few weeks, the number of patients going to Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare's primary care practices with symptoms of upper respiratory infections has increased, said Dr. Dean Watson, vice president and chief integration officer of the hospital.

Many of them are testing positive for COVID-19.

As of Wednesday, the hospital had two patients with COVID-19.

More: 'It’s not over': FAMU COVID-19 testing site marks two-year anniversary

Students from Leon County Schools drew pictures and wrote thank you notes to healthcare workers at Capital Regional Medical Center and Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare. The cards were delivered to the hospitals by Superintendent Rocky Hanna Tuesday, Sept. 21, 2021.
Students from Leon County Schools drew pictures and wrote thank you notes to healthcare workers at Capital Regional Medical Center and Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare. The cards were delivered to the hospitals by Superintendent Rocky Hanna Tuesday, Sept. 21, 2021.

The FSU variant analysis lab found the most recent infections are all the omicron variant, with 11 subvariants being identified, Watson said.

HCA Florida Capital Hospital, which had no patients at the beginning of the week, has three patients as of Thursday.

"We are still seeing pulmonary complaints and general malaise as the most common symptoms," said Dr. Trey Blake, chief medical officer at HCA Florida Capital.

As of May 16, the Centers for Disease Control data isn't showing a significant increase in cases because of the number of unreported home tests.

More: US COVID-19 map: Tracking cases and deaths

The positivity rate for Leon county, however, jumped more than 7% the week prior and currently sits at 16.6%.

From April 29 to May 5, Leon County had a 7% positivity rate, according to Florida Department of Health data. DOH releases COVID-19 information every two weeks.

In early April, cases in Florida started climbing, and the statewide positivity rate jumped to 9%.

Cases on the rise

COVID-19 vaccination sign at the Wahnish Way site.
COVID-19 vaccination sign at the Wahnish Way site.

Besides getting vaccinated and boosted, doctors recommend hand washing, covering your mouth and nose when you sneeze or cough, to stay home if you have symptoms and wear a mask if you are symptomatic and cannot stay home.

"It is important to remember that the virus is highly transmissible and we need to do our part in helping to prevent the spread," Blake said.

Contact Ana Goñi-Lessan at AGoniLessan@tallahassee.com and follow her on Twitter @goni_lessan. 

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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: COVID cases rise in Leon County, hospitalizations remain low