Florida Record: Florida Reports 47k New COVID Cases. Hospitalizations Up. New Test Site Opens Today.
Florida Reports Record New COVID-19 Cases. Hospitalizations Are Way Up. Florida COVID Deaths Remain Low. New Test Site Opens Today.
FLORIDA – Boca Post (BocaPost.com) — The Omicron surge is relentlessly breaking records as the year is coming to an end. According to the CDC, Florida has reported a whopping 46,923 cases on Wednesday, December 29th, 2021. Florida has reported 4 deaths in this last 7 day period.
Florida Hospitalizations From Omicron
According to the Florida Hospital Association (FHA), hospitalizations are slightly up by 127.7% over the last 7 days. Hospital capacity is a concern as FHA reports only 23.4% of impatient beds and 28% of Adult ICU beds currently available statewide. FHA is reporting a total of 3,411 COVID-19 hospitalizations.
Florida Deaths From Omicron
In the midst of this Omicron surge, a consistent metric has been low deaths. Florida is now reporting 4 deaths in the last 7 day period. That is up from the 0 to 1 which it has been for the last 7 days. Again, Omicron is proving to be more contagious and less lethal than Delta. During Florida’s Delta surge in September, Florida’s death rate was in the 350-400 a day range.
While hospitalizations may be up, when compared to the death rate, it appears the bulk of people admitted are walking out. This is a much different story than earlier days of the pandemic. For instance, Florida reported 567 new hospitalizations statewide on December 27th, 2021, there was only 1 death reported that day.
Florida COVID-19 Testing
With great testing comes great increase in infection rate. Testing is absolutely through the roof. Testing sites are full. Lines of cars wrap around parking lots. People are waiting hours for the test. For example, on December 22nd, 2021, the CDC reports Florida has administered nearly 170k tests which produced 26,673 new cases in Florida.
New Test Site In Palm Beach County
On the north end of the county there is a new COVID-19 drive-thru testing center opens Today, December 30th, 2021. The new site, located in Riviera Beach, is opening in an effort to alleviate the mile long lines at the government sites run at Gaines Park in West Palm Beach and the county library in Palm Beach Gardens.
The new site is located at the Wells Recreation Center at Blue Heron Blvd and Avenue H near the baseball fields in Riviera Beach. The new site will be run 7 days a week from 9am-5pm. However, like most government run agencies, it will be closed Friday and Saturday due to the holiday.
With government run sites being closed on Friday and Saturday, officials expect another large turnout to the testing sites on Sunday and Monday.
