COVID-19 cases continue to decline
Orange County seeing ‘clear, sustained deceleration’ of virus
Orange County officials on Monday lauded another week of declining positivity rates and a sharp reduction in the number of people hospitalized as it continues to battle bout with a summer spike of COVID-19.
Last week brought the sixth consecutive week of declines in the rate of new coronavirus cases and the lowest figure in two months, with just 7.58% of tests positive for the infection.
“There is a clear, sustained deceleration of the pandemic in our county,” said Dr. Raul Pino, the local health officer for the Florida Department of Health in Orange County.
Monday also brought the lowest single-day increase in new cases statewide since June 23. Florida reported 4,155 new infections and 91 additional deaths. None of the deaths occurred in Orange, Osceola, Seminole or Lake counties.
Only about 49,000 test results were reported Monday, 25,000 fewer than the day prior and far fewer than most days.
Pino wasn’t sure why the state reported fewer test results than typical on Monday.
Orange County has maintained
a daily positivity rate under 10% for two weeks. The measure is considered a key indicator of how much transmission of the virus is occurring within a community with less than 5% being the target.
“Our numbers are all in the single digits. This is really encouraging news for our students as they go back to school,” Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings said.
In Osceola, while weekly positivity rates are decreasing slightly, daily rates are often hitting double digits. Among Central Florida ZIP codes, the two with the highest numbers of infections are in Osceola: 34744 has 2,077 total cases while 34741 has 2,001.
During the week beginning July 26, 13.19% of test results were positive, while last week the rate was 12.86% in Osceola.
Vianca McCluskey, the state health officer in Osceola, said her office has tracked outbreaks in workplaces and long-term care facilities, as well as others in the community, adding that investigations have revealed some people showing up to work while sick.
“During case investigations, we have identified individuals who have worked while symptomatic. It is very important that people monitor for symptoms and not report to work if feeling ill,” she said in a statement, noting weekly data has trended down. “It is critical that the community be diligent when it comes to hand hygiene, social distancing, staying home when sick and wearing face coverings for the County to continue to trend in the right direction.”
In a nod to the notion that the pandemic isn’t going to go away any time soon, the Orlando City Council on Monday extended once short-term relief for downtown businesses for another six months.
Commissioners voted to extend the programs, which include rent subsidies and free downtown parking, through Feb. 1 in hopes of helping businesses survive the prolonged economic fallout.
Under the extensions, businesses owned by women and minorities in the city’s Community Redevelopment Agency boundaries, roughly the downtown district and the Parramore area, can apply for a rent subsidy of $6,000 or less.
The city waived parking up to two hours for metered spots and for up to three hours in garages. Customers can have parking validated at participating businesses.
Food trucks will be able to park in specific metered parking spots for free as well.
Orange County is set to take up a new relief program on Tuesday. Commissioners will hear details of an “eviction diversion” program created with $20 million in federal coronavirus aid.
“The COVID-19 eviction diversion program is designed for individuals impacted by the coronavirus who are in danger of being evicted,” Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings said. “It is designed to assist landlords as well.”
A state-wide moratorium on evictions is set to expire Sept. 1.
Additional details were not released by county officials.