COVID-19 cases appear to be headed down in Florida.
There were 50,242 new COVID-19 cases recorded over the last two weeks among Florida residents, bringing the cumulative total to 7,400,419, according to the Florida Department of Health’s latest report.
This data means there was an average of about 25,000 cases added per week in two weeks, compared to an average of about 27,000 per week in the three weeks prior. The wide availability of at-home testing guarantees this is an underestimate.
Across the state, 2,741 people were hospitalized with COVID-19 from Jan. 11-17, a 16% drop in COVID-19 admissions from the week prior, according to the latest White House report. In comparison, 3,355 were hospitalized three weeks ago. Five weeks ago, it was 1,847.
With 751 more fatalities on record, 84,927 Florida residents have died, according to the Florida Department of Health’s most recent report. In the three weeks before this, 570 deaths were reported.
Central Florida added 9,043 resident infections over the last three weeks, based on the actual date the state opened the case, for a total of 1,449,276: 2,644 more in Orange for 467,226; 882 more in Osceola for 141,566; 1,562 more in Polk for 254,851; 780 more in Lake for 107,003; 273 more in Sumter for 29,466; 999 more in Volusia for 147,759; 1,135 more in Brevard for 171,558; and 768 more in Seminole for 129,847.
Statewide, 16,111,848 residents, or 73% of people aged 6 months and up, have received at least one vaccination shot.
Booster uptake is much lower. The majority, 7,762,155, have completed their shot regimens but have not received an additional dose. About 11,274 received an additional dose this week, bringing the total to 6,136,637.
The US Food and Drug Administration has plans to simplify the COVID-19 vaccine process and hopefully increase buy-in over the coming months, according to a document released Monday.
The new model would switch to giving one annual shot during the fall season that targets whatever strain is predicted to be dominant during winter, in the same process used for the flu vaccine.
The agency’s independent vaccine advisers, the Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee, are scheduled to meet on Thursday to vote on whether to approve the FDA’s plan.
Vaccines and COVID-19 tests are currently available nationwide, including four free, mail-order test kits per household at covid.gov/tests. Testing options can be located at Floridahealthcovid19.gov/testing-sites.
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