Lee Health

Florida has emerged as a hotspot in the current resurgence of COVID-19 infections across the country. According to the White House nearly one in five new cases nationwide, last week, were diagnosed in Florida.The increase in infections is putting a strain on local hospital systems and raising concerns among public health experts as a new school year is about to begin and public school districts are dropping mask mandates under pressure from parents and government officials.

The United States is in the midst of a COVID-19 surge and according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, its largely being driven by the Delta variant, which is responsible for about eight of every 10 new cases. More than one in five of these new cases have been diagnosed in Florida. We explore what local hospitals are experiencing and the role public policy in Florida may be playing in the current surge.

State health officials report that as of Wednesday, more than 9.7 million people in Florida have been vaccinated against COVID-19, including more than two million people who have received a first dose and more than 7.7 million people who have either completed a two-dose series or have received the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine. More than 20,000 young teens in Florida have received a vaccine dose since eligibility for the Pfizer vaccine expanded to include people as young as 12 nearly a week ago.Estimates from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation reports more than 51,100 people in Florida have died from the coronavirus, which is far more than the Florida Department of Health’s official report of nearly 37,000 deaths.Students in Sarasota County schools will no longer have to quarantine following an exposure to COVID-19 if they have been fully vaccinated.

Severe winter weather in other parts of the country continues to delay Moderna COVID-19 shipments to Florida. First dose appointments in Southwest Florida are temporarily postponed. Gov. Ron DeSantis faces criticism over a state-run pop-up vaccine clinic in Lakewood Ranch that targets residents of a community developed by one of the governor’s campaign contributors. Hospitals in Southwest Florida continue working to vaccinate people younger than 65 who are at higher risk from the virus. Health officials reported more than 7,000 new infections and 157 deaths, Wednesday. According to AAA, the pandemic continues to discourage Floridians from traveling. Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody warns against COVID-19 vaccine scams.

The Florida Department of Health reported 3,615 COVID-19 infections, Monday, marking the lowest single-day increase in cases since the end of October. COVID-19 hospitalizations in Southwest Florida are also down, in line with a national trend. However, COVID-19 deaths in Florida remain high, averaging more than 153 fatalities a day over the past week.Severe winter weather across much of the U.S. is delaying shipments of COVID-19 vaccine doses to Florida. The delays have prompted the Department of Health in Collier County to only be providing second-dose shots this week. Florida Division of Emergency Management Director Jared Moskowitz is stepping down from his post. He has been a top state official leading Florida’s response to the pandemic.A pop-up vaccination clinic is coming to Lakewood Ranch in Manatee County later this week.

State health officials reported 5,737 COVID-19 cases and 120 deaths, Monday. Currently more than two million people in Florida have received the vaccine including more than 1.3 million people who have received a first dose and nearly 694,000 people who have completed the series with two doses.Lee Health received 1,000 vaccine doses this week, primarily for people under 65 years old who are at higher risk from the virus. In Sarasota County, 7,000 vaccine doses will be administered this week primarily to people 65 and older who are awaiting a first dose.Physicians say even people who have contracted COVID-19 should get the vaccine because it remains unclear how long the vaccine provides immunity and because a second infection of the virus can be more severe.Also, there are several efforts available to help seniors navigate Florida’s online vaccine appointment registration system.

State health officials reported 6,771 COVID-19 cases and 197 deaths, Wednesday. The Florida Department of Health is requesting an audit after more than 1,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses spoiled in Palm Beach County. Lee Health’s Board of Directors sent a letter to Gov. Ron DeSantis and other state officials, Monday, expressing concerns about Florida’s vaccine rollout and noting that only about half of the hospital system’s employees have been given the vaccine. The Lee County School District has quarantined three elementary school classrooms this week due to cases of the virus. The Marco Island Police Chief and Marco Island Fire-Rescue Chief face a 30-day unpaid suspension stemming from an investigation into access of the city’s online vaccine appointment registration system. Democrats in the state Legislature are pushing a bill to keep state exam scores from being used to hold students back or evaluate teachers.

Staff at Lee Health’s Gulf Coast Medical Center, on Wednesday, celebrated the opening of the hospital’s new 52-bed intensive care unit.The new ICU is part of the hospital’s $347 million expansion.

State health officials reported 17,783 new COVID-19 infections, Wednesday, for a total of 1,409,906 cases to date.The Florida Department of Health also reported 132 coronavirus-related deaths, yesterday, increasing the statewide death toll to 22,647 fatalities since the start of the pandemic.

State health officials reported 11,015 new COVID-19 cases, Monday, for a total of 1,212,581 cases.The Florida Department of Health also reported 112 new coronavirus-related deaths, Dec. 21, increasing the statewide death toll to 20,976 fatalities since the start of the pandemic.