Florida COVID weekly update: Cases continue to rise, reaching levels not seen in months
What is the COVID-19 situation like in Florida?
The average number of cases and deaths per day increased in the latest seven-day period in the state. As of Thursday, Dec. 29, the state has added an average of 3,691 cases and 44 deaths per day in the past seven days, according to Miami Herald calculations of data published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That’s up from an average of 3,227 cases and 32 deaths per day in the previous seven-day period.
The state hasn’t had this many new cases every week since September when weekly case averages were consistently over 3,500.
COVID information shifting to weekly trends. What to know about finding the report
As of Friday, Dec. 30, more than 14,852,900 people were fully vaccinated in Florida. The state has logged at least 7,338,503 cases and 83,906 deaths since the pandemic began in March 2020.
The number of cases is likely an undercount because the data doesn’t include positive results from at-home COVID testing. The state tracks only resident cases and deaths, excluding nonresident information.
Here’s a breakdown of what to know this week:
Tracking COVID variants
The CDC is tracking 17 omicron subvariants, 13 of which are spreading throughout the United States and make up all new cases.
From Dec. 25 to Dec. 31, the XB.1.5 strain was the most dominant strain in the United States, accounting for 40.5% of cases. The BQ.1.1 variant is now the second-most dominant strain, accounting for 26.9% of cases, according to CDC data.
In the Southeast region, which includes Florida, BQ.1.1 made up 41.5% of cases and was the most dominant strain, while BQ.1 was the second-most dominant, accounting for 20.7% of the cases.
COVID spread in South Florida
In the past week, the COVID-19 risk level in Miami-Dade County remained high.
At this level, the CDC recommends wearing a high-quality mask. For those at high risk of getting very sick, the agency says to consider avoiding non-essential indoor activities in public.
Broward, Monroe and Palm Beach counties remain at a medium transmission level.
At this level, the CDC recommends those at high risk of severe illness talk with their doctors on whether to wear a mask or take other precautions.
Manatee County remained at a low risk level of COVID-19 transmission.
Under this level, the CDC recommends staying up-to-date with coronavirus vaccines and getting tested if you have symptoms. Masks are recommended only for those with symptoms, a positive test or exposure to the virus.
South Florida and Manatee County COVID-19 Cases
From Dec. 22 to Dec. 29 Florida recorded 25,840 new cases, according to Miami Herald calculations of the CDC’s Community Profile Report published Friday.
Here’s a breakdown of the new COVID cases in South Florida and Manatee County, according to the report.
▪ Miami-Dade reported 7,287 new resident cases in the week ending Dec. 29, reaching a cumulative total of 1,501,326 since March 2020, when the pandemic began. New cases were 17.61% higher than those added in the previous week, and COVID-19 testing increased by 8.53%.
▪ Broward reported 2,824 new resident cases, reaching a cumulative total of 752,338. New cases were 10.79% higher than those added in the previous week, and COVID-19 testing increased by 3.47%.
▪ Palm Beach reported 1,954 new resident cases, reaching a cumulative total of 465,056. New cases were 17.57% higher than those added in the previous week, and COVID-19 testing increased by 13.54%.
▪ Monroe reported 53 new resident cases, reaching a cumulative total of 22,291. New cases stagnated in the previous week, and COVID-19 testing increased by 7.34%.
▪ Manatee reported 349 new resident cases, reaching a cumulative total of 120,012. New cases were 13.68% higher than those added in the previous week, and COVID-19 testing increased by 9.58%.
South Florida and Manatee County COVID deaths
Florida has added 306 deaths in the past week, according to Miami Herald calculations of the CDC’s Community Profile Report.
It is unclear when these newly reported deaths occurred. The Community Profile Report updates Florida’s county death tolls and rates about once every seven days.
Florida had a rate of 391 cumulative deaths per 100,000 people since the start of the pandemic, according to the CDC report.
Here’s where death rates and tolls stand in South Florida and Manatee County, according to the CDC:
▪ Miami-Dade’s death toll is 12,013, an increase of 31 deaths from last Friday’s report. That’s a rate of 442 cumulative deaths per 100,000 people since the beginning of the pandemic.
▪ Broward’s death toll is 6,565, an increase of 27. That’s a rate of 336 cumulative deaths per 100,000 people.
▪ Palm Beach’s death toll is 5,818, an increase of 21. That’s a rate of 389 cumulative deaths per 100,000 people.
▪ Monroe’s death toll is 134, an increase of one. The county would be at a death rate of 181 deaths per 100,000 people if its population were that large.
▪ Manatee’s death toll is 1,682, an increase of seven. Manatee has a rate of 417 cumulative deaths per 100,000 people.
Florida COVID-19 vaccinations
About 14,852,978 eligible Floridians — 69.2% of the state’s population — have completed the two-dose series of either the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccines or have completed Johnson & Johnson’s single-dose vaccine, according to the CDC.
Here’s how many people have received the updated Pfizer-BioNTech booster in South Florida and Manatee County since Oct. 12, according to the CDC:
▪ In Miami-Dade, about 169,327 people, or 6.6% of the fully vaccinated population, have received the booster.
▪ In Broward, about 171,705 people have received the booster, or 9.3% of the fully vaccinated population.
▪ In Palm Beach, about 169,031 people have received the booster, or 11.9% of the fully vaccinated population.
▪ In Monroe, about 8,753 people have received the booster, or 12.3% of the fully vaccinated population.
▪ In Manatee, about 47,082 people have received the booster, or 12.2% of the fully vaccinated population.
