Florida adds 32,981 COVID cases, highest weekly jump in 2 months

• COVID-19 infections in Florida continue to climb. Average daily cases have reached 4,711 for the most recent seven-day period from April 30 to Friday. That’s a 24-percent increase from last week and the highest point since Feb. 21. It’s the seventh straight week that cases have gone up, but the growth rate is starting to slow. Hospitalizations are climbing, but also at a slower pace than in previous weeks. Florida hospitals had about 1,000 COVID-19 confirmed patients the past week, just 12 percent higher than the week before.
• As fewer and fewer Floridians get tested for COVID-19, public health experts have turned to wastewater analysis to track the pandemic. There was no increase in coronavirus particles in Hillsborough wastewater last week, according to sewage testing start-up Biobot. Wastewater data is only available in some counties because Florida lacks a state-wide wastewater surveillance program.
• But Florida’s booster campaign remains anemic, even as cases rise. Fewer than 33,000 doses were administered last week while less than half of vaccinated Floridians are boosted. A study released this week found that booster shots offer nearly 50 percent better protection against infection compared to the first two doses alone. The study followed residents at more than 15,000 nursing homes from Feb. 14 to March 27, when the omicron variant accounted more more than 99 percent of all infections. Booster shots are the best protection against severe illness and death from the latest variants.

32,981: Number of cases reported in Florida over the past week from April 30-May 6.

4,712: Average cases a day during that seven-day period, a 24-percent increase compared to the previous week.

5,958,616: Total number of cases recorded in Florida.

107: Number of deaths reported in the past week.

74,055: Total pandemic deaths in Florida.

Vaccinations

49,406: Vaccinations (first or second doses) administered in the past week, down 13 percent compared to the previous week.

83 percent: Total Florida population that is at least partially vaccinated.

67 percent: Total Florida population that is fully vaccinated.

77 percent: Total U.S. population that is at least partially vaccinated.

66 percent: Total U.S. population that is fully vaccinated.

32,816: Booster doses administered in Florida in the last week, a 13-percent drop compared to the prior week.

26 percent: Total Florida population that is boosted.

30 percent: Total U.S. population that is boosted.

Positivity

13 percent: Florida, compared to 10.1 percent the previous week.

12.6 percent: Manatee

12.4 percent: Citrus

8.7 percent: Hernando

8.7 percent: Pinellas

8.5 percent: Pasco

8 percent: Hillsborough

7.5 percent: Polk

Hospitalizations

1,008: Florida hospitalizations, a 12-percent increase compared to the prior week.

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255: Tampa Bay admissions, a 22-percent increase compared to the prior week.

Local cases

5,417: Cases in Tampa Bay

1,093,741: Total cases in Tampa Bay to date.

26: Deaths in Tampa Bay

• • •

How to get tested

Tampa Bay: The Times can help you find the free, public COVID-19 testing sites in the bay area.

Florida: The Department of Health has a website that lists testing sites in the state. Some information may be out of date.

The U.S.: The Department of Health and Human Services has a website that can help you find a testing site.

• • •

How to get vaccinated

The COVID-19 vaccine for ages 5 and up and booster shots for eligible recipients are being administered at doctors’ offices, clinics, pharmacies, grocery stores and public vaccination sites. Many allow appointments to be booked online. Here’s how to find a site near you:

Find a site: Visit vaccines.gov to find vaccination sites in your ZIP code.

More help: Call the National COVID-19 Vaccination Assistance Hotline.

Phone: 800-232-0233. Help is available in English, Spanish and other languages.

TTY: 888-720-7489

Disability Information and Access Line: Call 888-677-1199 or email DIAL@n4a.org.

• • •

More coronavirus coverage

OMICRON VARIANT: Omicron changed what we know about COVID. Here’s the latest on how the infectious COVID-19 variant affects masks, vaccines, boosters and quarantining.

KIDS AND VACCINES: Got questions about vaccinating your kid? Here are some answers.

BOOSTER SHOTS: Confused about which COVID booster to get? This guide will help.

BOOSTER QUESTIONS: Are there side effects? Why do I need it? Here’s the answers to your questions.

PROTECTING SENIORS: Here’s how seniors can stay safe from the virus.

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