Reported weekly COVID-19-related deaths in Brevard soar, despite drop in total cases
COVID-19 cases in Brevard County decreased for the eighth week in a row, according to data released Friday by the Florida Department of Health.
But separate provisional data from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed a sharp increase in COVID-19-related deaths.
From Feb. 26 and March 5 — the latest-available data — there were 64 COVID-19-related deaths in Brevard County. That's an increase of 52 deaths, compared with the prior week.
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According to Florida Department of Health-Brevard Community Health Nursing Director John Davis, deaths can continue to increase weeks after cases peaks. That means the increase could be the fallout of the omicron variant's highly contagious surge.
Another caveat: Many of the deaths could have occurred weeks before they were reported in the data.
From March 4 through March 10, there were 217 COVID-19 cases in Brevard County, or 35.5 cases per 100,000 population. That's 143 fewer cases than were reported last week. And of those who took a COVID-19 test, 1.8% tested positive for COVID-19.
According to the CDC's new transmission guidelines, Brevard County is a community of low transmission. Under the new guidelines, transmission rate are based on COVID-19 hospital admissions, hospital capacity and cases per 100,000. The CDC recommends masking only for high transmission communities in the new guidelines.
Under the CDC's previous guidelines, the Space Coast would be considered a community of moderate transmission because weekly cases are between 10 and 49 cases per 100,000 population.
However, the number of individuals testing positive for COVID-19 was still higher than the number of individuals who got at least a first dose of a vaccine.
The vaccination rate remains at 70%, and only 163 residents receiving their first vaccinated dose during the week of March 4-10.
Davis also has cautioned that, al though the numbers continue to decrease, there may be more disease out in the community than is known because most at-home test kit results aren't reported to FDOH; asymptomatic individuals may not take a COVID-19 tests; and symptomatic individuals who choose not to get tested.
Statewide, cases per 100,000 population dropped from 64.4 cases per 100,000 population to 46.8 cases per 100,000 population this past week. The new case positivity rate also decreased from 3.3% to 2.4%.
The number of Floridians receiving their first dose of a vaccine also fell this past week, and the statewide vaccination rate remained at 74%.
According to FDOH, of the eligible population in Florida, age group vaccination rates across the state are:
Ages 5-11, 22% vaccinated.
Ages 12-19, 60% vaccinated.
Ages 20-29, 62% vaccinated.
Ages 30-39, 71% vaccinated.
Ages 40-49, 79% vaccinated.
Ages 50-59, 83% vaccinated.
Ages 60-64, 90% vaccinated.
Ages 65+, 95% vaccinated.
Nationwide, 69.3% of eligible Americans have been fully vaccinated. There have been 79,248,406 COVID-19 cases and 961,620 deaths nationwide since the start of the pandemic.
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.
West Melbourne Community Park, 3000 Minton Road, West Melbourne (use Fell Road entrance to the park); 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Sunday. This is a walk-up site, with preregistration recommended, but walk-ins are welcome. Preregister at patientportalfl.com.
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.
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.
Viera clinic, 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.
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.
Monoclonal antibody treatments:
Dependent on the weekly allocation that Omni Healthcare receives from the state of Florida, Omni Healthcare will continue to administer the monoclonal antibody treatment sotrovimab to patients.
Those interested in receiving the treatment can check whether supply is available that week on the website omnihealthcare.com and at covid19testbrevard.com. However, because of the nationwide shortage, eligibility is limited to patients who are unvaccinated and meet CDC guidelines.
Treatment will be administered at Omni's offices on 1344 S. Apollo Blvd. Suite 303, in Melbourne, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays; and at 845 Century Medical Drive, Suite B, in Titusville, from 1 to 4 p.m. on weekdays.
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: Brevard County sees spike in COVID deaths, CDC reports
