Has Florida seen its second peak of COVID-19 cases? - WJXT News4JAX

gemerlapbulan.blogspot.com

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Two days after Florida saw its highest daily increase in coronavirus cases since the pandemic began, it’s too early to see this as a trend but we’ll take two days of declining cases as good news.

The Department of Health reported Monday that 6,336 positive COVID-19 tests came back across the state -- a big number but well below Saturday’s peak of 11,458. Sunday’s daily number was 10,059 as the state surpassed 200,000 cases since testing began in early March.

Duval County, which also saw record peaks in new cases last week, had 341 positive tests for the virus reported Monday -- its smallest increase in six days. But Jacksonville’s percent of people testing positive remained at 14% on Sunday -- four times the average of positive tests being recorded a month ago.

Clay, Nassau, Putnam and St. Johns counties, which also set new daily peaks of COVID-19 cases late last week, each saw more moderate increases on Monday.

But before we put too much stock in this brief dip in positive cases, there was a similar drop last week before the state and Duval County saw record caseloads in the last five days.

Florida reached 100,000 cases on June 22, more than three months after the effects of the coronavirus began to be felt in the state, so Florida has added more than 106,000 cases in less than two weeks.

There were 57 additional deaths in the state’s report Monday, including a fourth death in Columbia County.

Amid the surge, Gov. Ron DeSantis has focused on steps the state has taken, such as boosting protections for nursing-home residents, as seniors and people with underlying medical conditions -- pretty much the definition of nursing-home residents -- are particularly vulnerable to the disease.

DeSantis also has tried to drive home the message that many new infections are occurring in young adults, who are less likely to suffer severe medical consequences.

“It’s been a huge shift. The case growth has really been in that 18- to-34, -35 age group,” DeSantis said during a news conference Thursday with Vice President Mike Pence in Tampa. “Now, those are folks that are by and large going to be much less prone to significant consequences. Nevertheless, with the increasing positivity rate, it’s clear that you’re seeing more and more community transmission really being driven by that age group. And so, if you’re someone in one of the medically vulnerable conditions, or you’re an older person, just understand that that’s out there, continue to be vigilant.”

Miami-Dade County, which has seen close to 2,000 new cases each day this month, announced Monday it was closing restaurants — with the exception of delivery and takeout services -- effective Wednesday. Before the holiday weekend, Mayor Carlos Gimenez instituted acurfew and closed of many entertainment venues.

Democrats have blasted DeSantis for not taking steps such as requiring face masks to be worn in public places statewide to prevent spread of the disease. Many local governments -- including Jacksonville, St. Augustine, Palatka and Nassau County -- have required face masks, but DeSantis has declined to issue a statewide mandate or to backtrack from economic reopening efforts that started in May and expanded in June.

News Service of Florida contributed to this report.

Let's block ads! (Why?)

"peak" - Google News
July 06, 2020 at 11:31PM
https://ift.tt/2BIA4G6

Has Florida seen its second peak of COVID-19 cases? - WJXT News4JAX
"peak" - Google News
https://ift.tt/2KZvTqs
https://ift.tt/2Ywz40B

Bagikan Berita Ini