[ad_1]
Florida has more cases of COVID-19 than any other state in the United States, as hospitalizations in some areas are increasing at the fastest rate since the start of the pandemic.
The state accounts for one in five new infections in the United States and recorded 73,181 cases in the past week, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Florida recorded 341 cases per 100,000 residents over the past week, just behind Louisiana. Florida’s weekly total of new cases more than quadrupled between July 1 and July 22, reaching its highest level since mid-January.
Deaths in Florida totaled 319 in the past week, the highest number among states, with a rate of 1.5 per 100,000 people, the fourth highest, according to the CDC.
LARGE HEALTH GROUPS REQUEST COVID-19 VACCINE MANDATES FOR HEALTH WORKERS
Epidemiologists say various factors are at play: a large number of unvaccinated people, a relaxation of preventive measures like mask wearing and social distancing, the spread of the highly contagious Delta variant of the coronavirus and the congregation of people to l indoors during the hot summer months.
“All of these things put together is a recipe for the data we see,” said Jason Salemi, an epidemiologist at the University of South Florida. “This is a cause for concern … the rate at which the indicators are rising.”
The number of people hospitalized in Florida has risen sharply over the past month, reaching 3,849 on July 17, the highest number since late February, according to a data dashboard created by Dr. Salemi. The patients are younger, with 53% under 60, compared to 30% at the start of the year.
Of people aged 12 or older in Florida, 55% are fully vaccinated, compared to 57% nationally, according to the CDC.
At the two hospitals at the University of Florida Health Jacksonville, 146 patients were admitted with COVID-19, a record for institutions, surpassing the previous peak of 125 in January, said Chad Neilsen, director of accreditation and prevention of infections. COVID-19 patients occupy three-quarters of beds on the system’s north campus, which attracts people from more rural areas with low vaccination rates, he said.
“This is an admissions rate in our hospital that we have never seen before,” said Dr Neilsen. “It was really amazing.”
CLICK HERE FOR FULL CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE
In response, the medical center is transferring some patients from the north campus, which is overcapacity, to a downtown campus. The facilities have taken steps to prepare, stock up on personal protective equipment and test material.
Click here to read the full article on WSJ.com.
[ad_2]
Source link