There's a COVID surge in Florida. Here's what the numbers show, and how to protect yourself

COVID cases have again been spreading in Florida.

Though winter is more traditionally known as the season of respiratory viruses, the past three summers have all seen increased rates of COVID-19 transmission. This year is no different, with wastewater data, hospitalizations and deaths showing the United States has seen a rise in cases since at least two months ago.

Wastewater data, collected by Biobot, shows that the level of COVID found in wastewater samples has trended upward since late June nationwide.

Though the company does not track data state-by-state, Florida is included in the South region, which has followed the national trend except for a slight dip in the data published Wednesday.

An updated booster is set to role out in mid-September, US News and World Report reported. Though the shot won't target the dominant variant EG.5, or "eris," all circulating strains are descendants of omicron, which should allow the vaccine to protect against serious illness, health officials said.

Here's an overview of what the uptick in COVID looks like in Florida, and what to do if you're sick.

Is COVID still causing hospitalizations and deaths?

Yes. The Centers for Disease Control reported 15,067 COVID-19 hospitalizations nationwide between Aug. 13 and Aug. 19. That’s an increase of 18.8% from the previous week.

While they did not report the specific number of deaths attributed to COVID, they attributed 1.7% of all deaths within the United States to COVID, a 21.4% increase from the prior week.

In Florida, there were 2,086 COVID-19 hospitalizations for the same time period, a 9.4% increase from the prior week. The CDC also reported that 3.4% of all deaths within the state were due to COVID, a 21.4% increase from the previous week.

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Where can I get a test?

This depends. While PCR tests are still the most accurate tests available to the public, the end of the federal emergency in May made testing no longer free, and not all insurances cover COVID tests.

Some Walgreens locations have a free at-home PCR test through Labcorp that does not require insurance. You can check if your Walgreens offers these tests by visiting their website.

Rapid tests are available to purchase in some grocery stores and pharmacies.

However, rapid tests are not as accurate as PCR tests, especially with numerous new variants circulating among the population. When you take a rapid test can also affect its accuracy. A study released as a preprint paper in 2022 showed rapid tests were 60% accurate on the first day of symptoms, and an asymptomatic infection dropped that number to just 12%. A second test 48 hours later improved the accuracy to 92% for symptomatic infections and 51% for asymptomatic infections.

Why bother to test?

While the initial symptoms of COVID may be similar to the common cold or flu, numerous studies show it can have long-lasting impacts on your vascular system and other parts of your body.

Though estimates vary, the CDC reported in summer 2022 that approximately one in 13 American adults were suffering from long COVID, a condition with numerous symptoms including fatigue especially after any kind of exertion, brain fog, chest pain and more. Out of the general population who had previously had COVID, they estimated about one in five had long COVID, with people of color and LGBTQ populations at an increased risk of developing the condition.

People with long COVID advocate for testing so that you have documented proof of your infection, in case you need to seek treatment for long COVID in the future.

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What should I do if I'm sick?

If you are sick and suspect it may be COVID, the CDC recommends isolating at home for at least five days and wearing a high-quality mask if you must be around other people. If your symptoms are improving and you are fever-free after five days, you can end isolation but should still wear a mask indoors and avoid being around high-risk individuals for at least 11 days.

Not everyone can isolate, due to schools and employers dropping their COVID-19 policies. If you need to be around people, the CDC recommends wearing "highly protective mask or respirator," like a KN95 or N95.

Where can I find data about COVID in my community?

You're unlikely to find accurate case numbers anymore. These numbers are no longer tracked by the CDC following the end of the federal emergency.

However, both the CDC and Biobot collect wastewater data, as do some local health departments. Wastewater data gives a broader view of COVID in the community than case numbers based on testing, as it picks up the virus shed by people who may be asymptomatic and may not test.

Data related to hospitalizations and deaths can be found on the CDC’s website, or on the Florida Department of Health’s website.

How do COVID levels compare to past summers?

Biobot's data for this summer is only slightly behind Biobot’s data from August 2021, when the Delta variant was surging and mask mandates were still in place in many schools. It’s also lower than the summer 2022 data, which showed a peak in July before dropping to a lower level but remaining more elevated than current data before peaking again in the winter.

Finch Walker is the education reporter at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Walker at 321-290-4744 or fwalker@floridatoday.com. Twitter: @_finchwalker.

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: COVID is on the rise in Florida: What to know about hospitalizations, testing