Florida and Jacksonville post biggest weeklong jump in COVID-19 cases on record

JACKSONVILLE, Florida – COVID-19 infections in Florida and Jacksonville have increased in the past seven days at the fastest rate since the pandemic hit the state early last year.

The Florida Department of Health reported more than 110,477 cases in the week ending Thursday – up 50% from the previous week and 10 times higher than the seven-day increases reported by the state for the most of June.

As a perspective, nearly 25% of all COVID-19 cases in the United States over the past seven days were in Florida – almost as many as the increases in California, Louisiana and Texas combined.

In the past 16 months, 2.5 million Floridians have tested positive for the coronavirus. During this period, FDOH reported 39,079 COVID-19-related deaths.

The greater Jacksonville area, which topped the state and nation in per capita spread last week, also saw its biggest increase in a week, reaching 8,308 new cases. Nassau County – which topped the CDC’s list for the highest level of community transition in America’s metropolitan counties last week – added 810 new cases, a rate of 908.6 cases per 100,000 inhabitants – up sharply from last week.

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The rate of the state’s coronavirus tests coming back positive continued to rise, reaching 18.1%. Jacksonville’s positivity rate was 26.9% and Bradford, Clay, Flagler, Nassau, Putnam and Union counties are even higher.

The latest data released by the state reflects the period July 23-29. Florida ended its daily COVID-19 reports early last month and now publishes weekly metrics on Friday.

The Florida Hospital Association also said on Friday that COVID-19-related hospitalizations statewide were nearing last year’s peak. More than 9,300 patients are in hospital, up from 1,845 a month ago and approaching the record of 10,179 set on July 23, 2020. Two of Jacksonville’s largest hospitals report they have already passed peak in coronavirus patients from last year.

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Per capita, Florida now has more people hospitalized than any other state.

The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and local leaders continue to emphasize that vaccinations are the key to getting out of the pandemic. Currently, more than 11.7 million Floridians have received at least one dose, or 61% of residents aged 12 and over.

Locally, 52% of Duval County received at least one dose of the vaccine. At 65%, St. Johns County is the only local community that exceeds the state average for vaccinations. Nassau is 54%, Jacksonville is 52%, Clay is 45%, while Baker, Bradford, Columbia and Putnam counties are 40% or less.

The state report shows that the pace of the first hinds increased for the third week in a row.

Friday’s report came hours after Gov. Ron DeSantis banned school districts from forcing students to wear masks when school resumes next month. He says there is no evidence that they prevent outbreaks among students or staff.

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