With increase in COVID cases, Brevard rises to community of medium transmission, CDC says
MELBOURNE — With a slight increase in COVID-19 cases, Brevard County is now considered a community of medium transmission of the coronavirus, according to data from the federal Centers for Disease Control.
Last week, Brevard County was considered a low-transmission community, with the CDC reporting 1,087 new cases and a positivity rate of 23.82%. The agency calculated there were 180.58 cases per 100,000 population in the county.
This week, between Aug. 19 and Aug. 25, there were 1,258 new cases, with 208.99 cases per 100,000 population. Between Aug. 17 and Aug. 23, the CDC reported a positivity rate of 24.53%.
Brevard County is now considered a community of medium COVID-19 viral transmission, a status calculated by the CDC through a combination of hospitalizations and case rates. There were 50 hospitalizations due to COVID-19 in Brevard from Aug. 18 to Aug. 24, the CDC said.
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The news was slightly better from the Florida Department of Health. From Aug. 19 to Aug. 25, the state reported 1,251 new COVID-19 cases in Brevard, with an 18.1% positivity rate. That's down from two weeks ago, when the state reported 1,332 cases and a 19.2% new-case positivity rate for the county.
There could be more infections in the community, as at-home test kits go unreported, and not everyone with symptoms takes a test.
From Aug. 19 to Aug. 25, there were fewer than 10 COVID-related deaths in Brevard County, though the CDC did not provide the specific number. Since the start of the pandemic, there have been 2,142 COVID-related deaths in Brevard.
The CDC advises that in communities of high transmission, residents should mask up indoors, get vaccinated and take a COVID test when feeling unwell. On the Space Coast, 68% of people 6 months and older have been fully vaccinated, the state Health Department said.
Of the eligible population in Florida, group vaccination rates, by age, across the state are:
Ages 6 months- 4 years, 2.1% vaccinated.
Ages 5-11, 25% vaccinated.
Ages 12-19, 64% vaccinated.
Ages 20-29, 66% vaccinated.
Ages 30-39, 73% vaccinated.
Ages 40-49, 80% vaccinated.
Ages 50-59, 84% vaccinated.
Ages 60-64, 88% vaccinated.
Ages 65+, 94% vaccinated.
Nationwide, 71.6% of Americans ages 5 and older have been fully vaccinated, though only 48.5% in that age group have received their first booster. There have been 93,880,573 COVID-19 cases and 1,037,953 deaths nationwide since the start of the pandemic.
Where to get vaccinated
The Florida Department of Health is offering COVID vaccines at three sites.
Viera clinic, at 2555 Judge Fran Jamieson Way.
Melbourne clinic, 601 E. University Blvd.
Titusville clinic, 611 N. Singleton Ave.
Space Coast residents can also get vaccines 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. Vaccines are also available from 9 a.m. to noon in Suite 2C of Omni’s 1344 S. Apollo Blvd. complex.
Finch Walker is a Breaking News Reporter at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Walker at 321-290-4744 or fwalker@floridatoday.com. Twitter: @_finchwalker
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This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Brevard County COVID cases rise, now community of medium transmission
