Space Coast COVID-19 case rates continue to rise to unprecedented highs
COVID-19 cases on the Space Coast reached a record high, according to data released Friday by the Florida Department of Health. From Jan. 7 to Jan. 13, there were 11,559 COVID-19 cases in Brevard County; a figure that local health official said might be even higher than official data shows.
A total of 1,891.2 cases per 100,000 population were reported on the Space Coast; this marks an increase of 41 percentage points since the previous week. More concerningly, COVID-19 rates in the community could be higher than those reported to the Florida Department of Health, according to John Davis, community health nursing director at the Florida Department of Health-Brevard.
As more cases circulate in Brevard County, the new case positivity rate also increased from 30.5% the prior week to 32.1% from Jan. 7 to Jan. 13.
According to John Hopkins University, the high positivity rate indicates that, "more testing should probably be done — and it suggests that it is not a good time to relax restrictions aimed at reducing coronavirus transmission."
Additionally, COVID-19 case positivity rate and cases per 100,000 are the two measures used to evaluate how much the virus is spreading in a community. According to the CDC, community of high transmission is one where there are more than 100 cases per 100,000 and a new case positivity rate of over 10%.
Due to the continued spread of the highly contagious COVID-19 omicron variant, Brevard County remains a community of high transmission.
'Another week, another record': Space Coast COVID-19 infection rates reach record highs
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Though the case rate continues to shatter pandemic case records, unlike in previous surges, the death rate remains low.
Between Dec. 25 and Jan. 8, Brevard County had 10 COVID-19 related deaths, according to CDC data. Since January 2020, a total of 1,738 people have died of COVID-19 on the Space Coast.
Despite this and the continued urging on the part of local officials, the vaccination rate among eligible residents— those five years of age and older— continues to rise at a snail's pace. As of Jan. 13, 69% of residents had received at least one dose of a vaccine, a mere 1% increase from the week prior, according to FDOH data.
Though the state vaccination rate of 72% is higher than Brevard County's, it saw no increase from the previous week.
According to FDOH, of the eligible population in Florida, age group vaccination rates across the state are:
Ages 5-11, 18% vaccinated
Ages 12-19, 59% vaccinated.
Ages 20-29, 61% vaccinated.
Ages 30-39, 70% vaccinated.
Ages 40-49, 78% vaccinated.
Ages 50-59, 83% vaccinated.
Ages 60-64, 90% vaccinated.
Ages 65+, 91% vaccinated.
About 21% of Floridians have received a booster shot.
Statewide, there were 1,958.1 cases per 100,000 population and a new case positivity rate of 29.3%. There were a total of 430,297 cases in Florida from Jan. 7 to Jan. 13, according to FDOH data.
According to CDC data, nationwide, only 62.9% of eligible Americans have been fully vaccinated. Across the US there have been a total of 844,841 COVID-19 related deaths and 64,285,467 cases 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. FDOH testing sites will be closed on Jan. 17.
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.
Rockledge City Center, 920 Barton Blvd., Rockledge, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Sunday. The site as at the southwest corner of the Rockledge City Center parking lot, near the intersection of Barton and Fiske boulevards. This is a drive-thru site with preregistration recommended, but walk-ins are welcome. Preregister at patientportalfl.com.
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.
How many people in Brevard County have received a COVID-19 vaccine? Here's how many people on the Space Coast are fully vaccinated against COVID-19
Where to get vaccinated:
The Florida Department of Health is offering COVID-19 vaccines at three sites. FDOH vaccination sites will be closed on Jan. 17.
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.
Where to get the monoclonal antibody treatment:
The monoclonal antibody treatment operation is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily under an outdoor tented area in the southwest corner of the Rockledge City Center parking lot, at 920 Barton Blvd. The site is at the intersection of Barton and Fiske boulevards.
Appointments are required, as is proof of a positive COVID-19 test result. Appointments can be made at https://www.patientportalfl.com/.
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 COVID cases reach record high as omicron surges in Florida
