Cases up while hospitalizations are down over last two weeks
There were 57,684 new COVID-19 cases recorded over the last two weeks among Florida residents, compared to 33,049 in the two weeks prior, bringing the cumulative total to 7,531,055 in the Florida Department of Health’s latest report.
Across the state, 1,667 people were hospitalized with COVID-19 from Feb. 15-21, according to the latest White House report. In comparison, 1,933 were hospitalized two weeks ago. Four weeks ago, it was 2,369.
With 556 more fatalities on record, 86,294 Florida residents have died, according to the Florida Department of Health’s most recent report. In the two weeks before this, 584 deaths were reported. Not all the reported deaths happened in the last two weeks. Deaths can take weeks or months to be reported.
Statewide, 16,142,855 residents, or 73% of people age 6 months and up, have received at least one vaccination shot.
Booster uptake is much lower. The majority, 7,773,462, have completed their shot regimens but have not received an additional dose. About 3,833 received an additional dose this week, bringing the total to 6,150,466.
Central Florida added 9,868 resident infections over the last three weeks, based on the actual date the state opened the case, for a total of 1,472,611: 2,608 more in Orange for 473,481; 917 more in Osceola for 143,680; 2,185 more in Polk for 259,801; 717 more in Lake for 108,782; 265 more in Sumter for 30,117; 1,113 more in Volusia for 150,388; 1,216 more in Brevard for 174,532; and 847 more in Seminole for 131,830.
Testing, vaccine and treatment options can be located at Floridahealthcovid19. gov/testing-sites.
Vaccines and COVID-19 tests are currently available nationwide, including four free, mail-order test kits per household at covid.gov/tests.
The public health emergency that funded the government’s distribution of free tests, vaccines and treatment ends in May. This means these test kits, along with COVID-19 treatments and vaccines, won’t be free for everyone for much longer — only until the government’s current stockpile runs out. Then, the private sector takes over.