Hospitalizations and COVID-19 increase in Brevard County thanks to omicron
While the omicron subvariant of the novel coronavirus, also known as BA. 2, has not yet created record breaking case rates like an earlier omicron variant did in January, data from statewide and nationwide health agencies show an uptick in COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations across Florida.
Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed that Between May 15 and May 21, there were 51 new COVID-19 hospital admissions in Brevard County, which is supported by reports from local medical groups.
Health First has seen it's COVID-19 hospitalizations more than doubled over the last six weeks. The group's four hospitals—Cape Canaveral, Holmes, Palm Bay Hospital and Viera Hospital— who had 14 COVID-19 hospitalizations April 11 now has 37 COVID-19 patients, four of which are in the ICU, according to Health First spokesperson Lance Skelly.
Parrish Medical Center which had reached zero COVID-19 hospitalizations April 11, currently has three COVID-19 hospitalizations, according to Natalie Sellers Parrish Medical Center spokesperson . One of those patients is intubated and in the ICU.
Sellers said, “We continue to monitor community positivity rates closely and we continue to advocate for primary and booster vaccination as the best way to prevent hospitalizations.”
Yet, the vaccination rate for eligible residents— those ages five and older— on the Space Coast has remained at 70% and is below the the statewide vaccination rate, according to FDOH data.
The stagnation of the vaccination rates and the high transmissibility of the omicron subvariant means infections are on the rise. According to the CDC, about 99% of all COVID-19 cases we are now seeing are from an omicron subvariant.
Florida Department of Health data showed that from May 13 to May 19, there were 235.1 cases per 100,000 population in Brevard County. This means that there were 1,437 cases on the Space Coast during that period, and a new case positivity rate of 11.9%. This is up from the case rate the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported last week of 142 cases per 100,000 population.
However, experts warn there could be far more infections in the community than is tracked because at-home test kit results go unreported and not everyone who is symptomatic takes a COVID-19 test.
While Brevard County remains a community of low transmission according to CDC guidelines, if case rates and hospitalizations continue to increase, it may join the 14 other counties in Florida that are considered communities of medium transmission.
The CDC calculates transmission levels through a combination of hospitalizations and case rates.
While COVID-19 related hospitalizations are rising, there were two COVID-19 related deaths from May 7 to May 14, according to a provisional CDC database. There have been 1,994 COVID-19 related deaths in Brevard since the start of the pandemic.
Statewide, there was a new case positivity rate of 13.4% and 150.1 cases per 100,000 population from May 13 to May 19. Over the course of the last two weeks, there were 270 more COVID-19 related deaths in Florida. Since the start of the pandemic, 74,330 Floridians have died of COVID-19.
Across Florida, 74% of eligible residents have received at least one dose of a vaccine as of May 19.
According to FDOH, of the eligible population in Florida, age group vaccination rates across the state are:
- Ages 5-11, 24% vaccinated.
- Ages 12-19, 59% vaccinated.
- Ages 20-29, 63% vaccinated.
- Ages 30-39, 72% vaccinated.
- Ages 40-49, 79% vaccinated.
- Ages 50-59, 83% vaccinated.
- Ages 60-64, 89% vaccinated.
- Ages 65+, 95% vaccinated.
Nationwide, 70.7% of eligible Americans have been fully vaccinated. There have been 83,145,591 COVID-19 cases and 999,384 deaths nationwide since the start of the pandemic.
Where to get vaccinated
The Florida Department of Health is offering COVID-19 vaccines at three sites.
- Viera clinic, at 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.
- 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.
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.
Amira Sweilem is the data reporter at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Sweilem at 386-406-5648 or asweilem@floridatoday.com.