Florida sees 17,589 new COVID cases, 4th highest jump in state pandemic history

© Joe Burbank / Orlando Sentinel / TNS
Cars line up for COVID-19 testing at Barnett Park, Orlando, Fla. On Thursday, July 29, 2021.

MIAMI – Florida recorded its fourth-highest single-day peak of COVID-19 cases since the pandemic began 16 months ago, reporting 17,589 new cases to the federal government on Wednesday and deepening the exposure of the ‘State to the virulent variant of the delta.

This is the eighth day in a row that Florida has reported more than 12,000 new cases of COVID to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention daily. As of June 28 – a month ago – Florida reported only 1,312 new cases of COVID, an increase of 1,241% from the July 28 level of 17,589 cases, according to the CDC.

Florida, which accounts for about 6.5% of the U.S. population, accounts for about 20.4% of the nation’s new cases, based on data the state reports to the CDC. The state also reported 56 new deaths.

The high number of cases – and the most severe cases – are mainly due to unvaccinated people contracting the virus, according to public health experts, calling it an “unvaccinated pandemic”.

The state’s highest three days of new COVID cases, preceding Wednesday’s totals, all occurred during Florida’s January peak: 19,816 cases on January 7; 19,530 cases on January 8; and 17,783 cases recorded on Jan.6, according to state data.

January was the worst month in Florida’s pandemic, with the number of daily cases consistently exceeding 10,000. This follows an increase last July, when the number of daily cases also exceeded 10,000.

The second half of July 2021 was the third wave of COVID-19 in Florida.

Florida’s 7-day positivity rate climbed to 17.21% on Monday from 16.79% on Sunday, the state reported to the federal agency.

Cumulatively, Florida recorded at least 2,551,923 confirmed cases of COVID statewide and 38,896 deaths as of Wednesday, according to the CDC.

More than 12.2 million Floridians have received at least one dose of the vaccine, or about 57.2% of the state’s total population, according to Florida’s COVID Weekly Reports. About 49% of Florida’s total population is fully vaccinated, which is the US average.

After the CDC recommended that all people, vaccinated or not, wear masks indoors and in areas of high transmission, governments, schools and businesses revived mask policies.

On Wednesday, Walt Disney World announced that starting Friday, all guests – vaccinated or not – over the age of 2 will be required to wear masks indoors and on Disney transportation. Masks will still not be required outdoors, he said.

This came after Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings restored a state of emergency in the county due to high rates of COVID-19 transmission on the same day, the Orlando Sentinel reported.

Also on Wednesday: The Broward School Board voted unanimously to institute a mask mandate for all students, teachers and staff when school begins on August 18.

Mayor Daniella Levine Cava in Miami-Dade County on Wednesday imposed masks on all county facilities, including libraries and recreation centers. She is also urged companies to require face coverings indoors.

Miami Beach’s Mount Sinai Medical Center is also rescinding its policies as of Friday, saying it will not allow visitors to its medical center or doctors, while having limited visits to its Miami Beach emergency centers. , Aventura and Hialeah.

Jackson Health System suspended visits to most of its inpatient units in early July, except for Rehab, Pediatrics, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Maternity, and End of Life cases. no COVID. Visitors are also not allowed in all adult emergency departments.

Miami-Dade County, Orange County, and 64 other counties in Florida are considered high transmission areas by the CDC. The state has 67 counties.

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