Orange County, Florida declares “state of emergency”



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  • Orange County, Florida is urging all residents to wear masks indoors.
  • About 1,371 people tested positive Tuesday, a record in the county.

Central Florida County which is home to Disney World and other major theme parks and 1.3 million people is now in a state of emergency after experiencing highest number of COVID-19 cases in a single day since the start of the pandemic.

Orange County Mayor Jerry L. Demings on Wednesday signed an executive order declaring an emergency, which could be the first step towards issuing a new mask warrant. For now, however, face coverings are only encouraged as part of an effort to avoid another shutdown.

“I urge our residents and visitors – vaccinated and unvaccinated – to wear masks indoors,” Demings said in a statement.

According to the decree, the 14-day positive test rate in Orange County is now over 15%, down from less than 4.3% at the end of June.

About 1,371 people tested positive on July 27, a record. Wastewater monitoring says there has been a “substantial increase” in COVID-19 amid the spread of the more contagious Delta variant.

Just over half of Orange County’s population, or 52.6%, has been fully vaccinated, according to data collected by the Democrat and Chronicle newspaper. The national vaccination rate is 49.4%.

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