Florida COVID weekly: Miami-Dade, Broward transmission level raises, new cases increase
What is the COVID-19 situation like in Florida?
As of Thursday, Nov. 10, the state has added an average of 1,761 cases and 26 deaths per day in the past seven days, according to Miami Herald calculations of data published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That’s up from an average of 1,547 cases per day in the previous seven-day period, although deaths ticked down from 27 deaths per day.
COVID information shifting to weekly trends. What to know about finding the report
As of Friday, Nov. 10, more than 14,774,200 people were fully vaccinated in Florida. The state has logged at least 7,215,695 cases and 82,535 deaths since the pandemic began in March 2020.
The number of cases is likely an undercount due to positive results from at-home COVID testing. The state only tracks resident cases and deaths, excluding nonresidents.
Here’s a breakdown of what to know this week:
Tracking COVID variants
Six new omicron subvariants — BQ.1, BQ.1.1, BF.7, BA.2.75, BA.2 and BA.5.2.6 — are gaining traction, spreading throughout the United States. This is in addition to omicron’s two widespread subvariants, BA.5 and BA.4.6.
From Nov. 6 to Nov. 12, the BA.5 strain was the most dominant strain in the United States, accounting for 29.7% of cases. The BQ.1.1 variant is now the second-most dominant strain, accounting for 24.1% of cases, according to CDC data.
In the Southeast region, which includes Florida, BA.5 made up 29.9% of cases and BQ.1.1 accounted for 24.2%, the most dominant strain and second most.
COVID spread in South Florida
In the past week, Miami-Dade, Broward and Monroe counties have risen to a medium COVID-19 risk level after weeks of low transmission.
At this level, the CDC recommends those at high risk of severe illness talk with their doctors on whether to wear a mask or take other precautions.
Palm Beach and Manatee counties remained at a low COVID-19 risk level. Under this level, the CDC recommends to get tested if you have symptoms and stay up-to-date with coronavirus vaccines.
Masks are only recommended for those with symptoms, a positive test or exposure to the virus.
South Florida and Manatee County COVID-19 Cases
In the period from Nov. 3 to Nov. 10, Florida recorded 12,321 new cases, according to Miami Herald calculations of the CDC’s Community Profile Report published Friday.
Here’s a breakdown of the new COVID cases in South Florida and Manatee County, according to the report.
▪ Miami-Dade reported 2,262 new resident cases in the week ending Nov. 10, reaching a cumulative total of 1,470,012 since March 2020, when then pandemic began. New cases were 22.27% higher than those added in the previous week, and COVID-19 testing decreased by 3.3%.
▪ Broward reported 1,192 new resident cases, reaching a cumulative total of 739,132. New cases were 24.04% higher than those added in the previous week, and COVID-19 testing decreased by 8.56%.
▪ Palm Beach reported 812 new resident cases, reaching a cumulative total of 455,973. New cases were 18.20% higher than those added in the previous week, and COVID-19 testing decreased by 2.84%.
▪ Monroe reported 43 new resident cases, reaching a cumulative total of 22,026. New cases were 86.96% higher than those added in the previous week, and COVID-19 testing increased by 1.28%.
▪ Manatee reported 243 new resident cases, reaching a cumulative total of 118,222. New cases were 0.83% higher than those added in the previous week and COVID-19 testing increased by 5.54%.
South Florida and Manatee County COVID deaths
Florida has added 178 deaths in the past week, according to Miami Herald calculations of the CDC’s Friday Community Profile Report.
It is unclear when these newly reported deaths occurred. The Community Profile Report updates Florida’s county tolls and rates about once every seven days.
As of Friday’s Community Profile Report, Florida had a rate of 384 cumulative deaths per 100,000 people since the start of the pandemic.
Here’s where death rates and tolls stand in South Florida and Manatee County, according to the CDC:
▪ Miami-Dade’s death toll is 11,891, an increase of 21 deaths from last Friday’s report. That’s a rate of 438 cumulative deaths per 100,000 people since the beginning of the pandemic.
▪ Broward’s death toll is 6,478, an increase of 15. That’s a rate of 332 cumulative deaths per 100,000 people.
▪ Palm Beach’s death toll is 5,730, an increase of eight. That’s a rate of 383 cumulative deaths per 100,000 people.
▪ Monroe’s death toll is 132, no increase. The county would be at a death rate of 178 deaths per 100,000 people if its population were that large.
▪ Manatee’s death toll is 1,643, an increase of eight. Manatee has a rate of 407 cumulative deaths per 100,000 people.
Florida COVID-19 vaccinations
About 14,774,230 eligible Floridians — 72.6% of the state’s population — have completed the two-dose series of either the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccines or have completed Johnson & Johnson’s single-dose vaccine, according to the CDC.
Here’s how many people have received a booster in South Florida and Manatee County, according to the CDC:
▪ In Miami-Dade, about 850,588 people, or 35.8% of the fully vaccinated population, have received a booster.
▪ In Broward, about 600,694 people have received a booster, or 42.1% of the fully vaccinated population.
▪ In Palm Beach, about 470,738 people have received a booster, or 46.1% of the fully vaccinated population.
▪ In Monroe, about 24,783 people have received a booster, or 41.5% of the fully vaccinated population.
▪ In Manatee, about 121,828 people have received a booster, or 47.4% of the fully vaccinated population.
