More than 1,000 Florida adults hospitalized daily with COVID-19

TAMPA, Florida – There have been ups and downs in Florida over the past 10 weeks with COVID-19 infections, positive testing and vaccinations, ranging from low cases and high vaccine doses to the reverse, over the course of last month.

“The most recent report we received from the Florida Department of Health was over 73,000 [cases] for this week, and that’s about 10,500 cases per day. We have increased our positivity over the past five weeks or so from 3.3% to 15%, “said Dr. Jason Salemi of USF Health who tracks COVID-19 data.” To be honest, when I look at the cases coming out of the CDC just during this week, I would expect that [Friday’s] Florida Department of Health report is going to be over 100,000 cases for the most recent week, likely averaging over 15,000 cases per day. “

Dr Salemi said people who land at the hospital are younger now, under 60.

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“So what we saw is that Florida had 7,400 confirmed hospitalizations for COVID-19 among adults during the last 7-day window. So that’s over 1,000 adults hospitalized each day for COVID-19, “said Salemi. “It was a 141% increase from just two weeks ago, and it was more than quadrupling from four weeks ago.”

All of these numbers translate to lives in the hands of physicians. BayCare Health System said its Tampa Bay facility has seen a significant increase in the number of COVID-19 patients over the past month.

A BayCare spokesperson said that in the past three weeks, COVID patients at BayCare hospitals have more than tripled and the overwhelming majority of hospital patients are unvaccinated and are between the ages of 20 and 50.

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The hospital said those vaccinated and hospitalized tend to be older patients with underlying health issues.

AdventHealth Tampa said they were seeing people in their 20s needing ventilators to survive.

“Because the more people get it, the more people will get sicker, more people unfortunately die. And the vast majority of the patients that we see are a large, large majority. I mean, 90% and more are not. vaccinated, ”said Dr. Doug Ross, AdventHealth Tampa’s chief medical officer.

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Among those who are vaccinated with at least one dose in Tampa Bay, the most recent weekly figures for July 16-22 from the Florida Department of Health show Hardee County at its lowest with 37%; DeSoto with 46%; Hernando at 49%; 51% Polk; Citrus at 52%; Highlands with 53%; Hillsborough at 55%; Pasco County at 55% and Manatee County with 58% of those vaccinated. Sarasota County has the highest vaccination rate at 68%.

The vaccine means you’re protected against serious illness or death, doctors said. With deaths also on the rise, they shared their concerns.

“Our sister hospitals in Orlando and the Central Division are seeing a huge increase in patients, especially there. So what we’re seeing in Tampa is probably lagging behind,” Dr. Ross said. “But we’re very concerned about how fast that is moving as the numbers go up. We think it probably won’t peak, at least the Central Division doesn’t think it will peak for another week or two. . And so we’ll have to wait and see. “

Doctors said vaccines are important, but take five to six weeks to be fully protected. So doctors said masking and social distancing was needed to help stop the spread because it is now much easier for this virus to infect people.