Amid a nationwide summer time spike in COVID-19 instances, Florida is reportedly experiencing one of many highest will increase, prompting well being consultants to warn residents to take the scenario very significantly and undertake protecting and academic measures.
Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff has tested positive for COVID-19 and is experiencing gentle signs. Nevertheless, Vice President Kamala Harris has examined detrimental and stays asymptomatic.
READ: Long COVID remains serious and persistent; more than 200 symptoms identified
This comes amid a summer time spike in COVID-19 instances throughout the nation, including Florida prompting well being consultants to warn residents to take the scenario very significantly and implement protecting measures. In line with the most recent data from the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC), Florida ranks among the many highest of any state throughout this wave.
Charges of COVID-19 have surged in emergency rooms over latest weeks, nearing peaks not seen because the worst days of this previous winter's wave.
Along with emergency room visits, different key metrics in Florida, corresponding to wastewater and nursing home information, have additionally seen steep will increase.
READ: Florida emergency rooms see a surge in COVID-19 cases, nearing last winter's peak
Motion Information Jax spoke to Dr. Jeffrey Goldhagen, the previous Director of the Duval Division of Well being, who stated the uptick is to be anticipated since we’ve got extra variants and those that are unvaccinated are prone.
“Sadly, the assist for COVID testing will not be what it was throughout the pandemic, however these COVID checks are nonetheless accessible by pharmacies. Individuals do must take this very significantly,” Dr. Goldhagen stated.
Traditionally, COVID-19 exercise has picked up at the least twice a yr because the pandemic started: as soon as throughout the summer time or early fall after a spring lull, and once more within the winter. Nevertheless, the CDC now states that COVID-19 exercise patterns noticed usually are not seasonal and may surge at any time of the yeartypically pushed by new variants.
Dr. Goldhagen added “Over one million folks died throughout the pandemic. Most of these individuals who did had been truly not vaccinated. The vaccines that do work. In the event that they need to take that threat for themselves, they’ll for certain, however they do must vaccinate their youngsters, and positively these round them which can be an awesome threat.”
At the moment, the KP.2 and KP.3 variants are the most typical nationwide, chargeable for greater than half of latest instances. Different variants, corresponding to LB.1 and KP.4.1, are additionally contributing to the present rise.
Dr. Goldhagen additionally warned of the potential for an additional pandemic with the H1N1 bird flu virusWhereas the present public well being risk is low, he emphasised that if we don’t be taught from our expertise with the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ll make the identical errors with future viruses.
To guard themselves and others, persons are urged to comply with these pointers:
For extra info and assets, go to the CDC's COVID-19 page or your native well being division's web site.
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