Greater Jacksonville leads Florida nation in COVID resurgence

Florida reported 16,038 new cases of COVID-19 to the federal government on Tuesday, the highest number of new cases since Jan. 15, according to CDC data.

Tuesday’s total was the seventh day in a row that Florida has reported more than 12,000 new cases and intervened as the CDC issued guidelines advising fully vaccinated people to wear masks indoors in public places . The surge in numbers and the new CDC guidelines came as the delta variant of the coronavirus spreads across the country and many people remain unvaccinated.

Nationwide, an additional 80,701 new cases of COVID-19 were reported on Tuesday, meaning Florida accounted for about 20% of the new cases reported for the day.

The growing number of COVID-19 patients in Florida hospitals is more troubling than the new cases.

The Florida Hospital Association reported that there were 8,816 COVID-19 patients hospitalized statewide on Thursday – four times more than a month ago and 87% of the peak seen in last summer’s outbreak . But the Jacksonville area was experiencing 154% of last July’s peak and the Orlando area was 115% of last summer’s peak.

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The HFA notes that:

• Hospitals report over 95% of COVID-19 hospital patients not fully immunized

• Average age of people hospitalized with COVID-19 is younger than previous peaks

• Hospitals implement surge capacity plans based on local situations

“The virus has a new target: unvaccinated people and the youngest,” said Mary Mayhew, president and CEO of the Florida Hospital Association. “Previously healthy people in their teens through 40s are now in hospital and on ventilators. Whatever your age, get vaccinated, so eligible! What you heard last year and last spring about this virus primarily targeting the elderly and those with pre-existing illnesses is not true today. I understand and respect that the COVID-19 vaccination is a deeply personal and serious decision. There are no options without some degree of uncertainty or risk. My only request is that you ask questions, be informed, and make a decision that is best for you and the community. “

Late Tuesday, Baptist Health CEO Michael Mayo said they were seeing record numbers of COVID-19 patients and posted an urgent appeal on his Facebook page:

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“It’s never been as bad as it is today,” Mayo wrote. “Today, our number of COVID-positive patients has surpassed 400, including 18 children, from infants and school-aged children to adolescents and young adults. Although this figure changes daily, the percentage of unvaccinated patients has always remained above 97% during this increase. The human cost of COVID-19 is real. According to a study recently published in The Lancet, more than 1.5 million children have lost a primary or secondary caregiver to COVID-19. “

States and businesses rushed to change course on Wednesday after new federal guidelines calling for the return of indoor mask wear to virus hot spots.

The guidelines also call on all schools to require masks for students, teachers and visitors. As districts across the country tried to heed the latest advice, Florida districts face an additional challenge with Gov. Ron DeSantis, a vocal critic of mask mandates – even threatening to call a special session of the legislature to pass a law prohibiting the requirement of face coverings.

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“I know that’s not a message America wants to hear,” CDC director Rochelle Walensky told CNN. “With the previous variants, when people had these rare breakthrough infections, we didn’t see their ability to pass the virus on to others, but with the delta variant, we now see that you can now pass it on to someone. else.” ‘