Florida COVID weekly update: Miami-Dade County returns to high transmission risk level
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. 22, the state has added an average of 3,227 cases and 32 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 2,851 cases and 27 deaths per day in the previous seven-day period.
COVID information shifting to weekly trends. What to know about finding the report
As of Friday, Dec. 23, more than 14,852,000 people were fully vaccinated in Florida. The state has logged at least 7,312,663 cases and 83,600 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 16 omicron subvariants, 12 of which are spreading throughout the United States and make up all new cases.
From Dec. 18 to Dec. 24, the BQ.1.1 strain was the most dominant strain in the United States, accounting for 35.7% of cases. The BQ.1 variant is now the second-most dominant strain, accounting for 27.4% of cases, according to CDC data.
In the Southeast region, which includes Florida, BQ.1.1 made up 43.5% of cases and was the most dominant strain, while BQ.1 was the second most dominant, accounting for 24.6% of the cases.
COVID spread in South Florida
In the past week, the COVID-19 risk level in Miami-Dade County rose to high, the first time the county has been at that transmission level in weeks.
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 rose to 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. 15 to Dec. 22 Florida recorded 22,590 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 6,196 new resident cases in the week ending Dec. 22, reaching a cumulative total of 1,494,039 since March 2020, when the pandemic began. New cases were 12.65% higher than those added in the previous week, and COVID-19 testing increased by 8.03%.
▪ Broward reported 2,549 new resident cases, reaching a cumulative total of 749,514. New cases were 14.15% higher than those added in the previous week, and COVID-19 testing increased by 3.16%.
▪ Palm Beach reported 1,662 new resident cases, reaching a cumulative total of 463,102. New cases were 11.62% higher than those added in the previous week, and COVID-19 testing decreased by 1.59%.
▪ Monroe reported 53 new resident cases, reaching a cumulative total of 22,238. New cases were 51.43% higher than those added in the previous week, and COVID-19 testing increased by 14.77%.
▪ Manatee reported 307 new resident cases, reaching a cumulative total of 119,663. New cases were 19.92% higher than those added in the previous week, and COVID-19 testing increased by 3.9%.
South Florida and Manatee County COVID deaths
Florida has added 220 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 389 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 11,982, an increase of 19 deaths from last Friday’s report. That’s a rate of 441 cumulative deaths per 100,000 people since the beginning of the pandemic.
▪ Broward’s death toll is 6,538, an increase of 17. That’s a rate of 335 cumulative deaths per 100,000 people.
▪ Palm Beach’s death toll is 5,797, an increase of seven. That’s a rate of 387 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 1,675, an increase of six. Manatee has a rate of 415 cumulative deaths per 100,000 people.
Florida COVID-19 vaccinations
About 14,852,170 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 169,036 people, or 6.6% of the fully vaccinated population, have received the booster.
▪ In Broward, about 171,478 people have received the booster, or 9.3% of the fully vaccinated population.
▪ In Palm Beach, about 168,821 people have received the booster, or 11.9% of the fully vaccinated population.
▪ In Monroe, about 8,725 people have received the booster, or 12.3% of the fully vaccinated population.
▪ In Manatee, about 47,014 people have received the booster, or 12.2% of the fully vaccinated population.
