Saturday’s Florida Department of Health COVID-19 update report was record breaking. There were 4,049 new COVID-19 cases since Friday, which sets a new record for the most cases reported in the state of Florida in one day. FDOH also reported that there were 40 deaths across the state.
Saturday’s report brings the total number of confirmed cases in Florida over 90,000 to 93,797. and the current death toll to 3,144.
Osceola County has moved over the 1000 mark with a total of 1007 cases. 47 of them coming since Friday.
Locally, the 20-34 age group has seen an increase in cases, and the median age for new cases reported in Osceola County the last 14 days is 27 years old.
While case numbers go up in Osceola County mirroring the spike across the state, Florida Department of Health in Osceola County Director Vianca McCluskey said those younger patients have fewer outcomes that require a hospital stay, so the percentage of cases needing hospitalizations is slightly lower, and that area hospitals are reporting no significant impacts with the spike in COVID-19 cases.
The Health Department has identified outbreaks in some households and businesses within the county, McCkuskey said. She also noted that testing is way up, especially thus far this month.
“We’ve tested 5,200 just this month (June), which is more than we did in April,” she said. “We should eclipse our total for May, too.”
The county’s testing capability expands next week when Sunrise Pharmacy in Kissimmee will begin testing Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Appointments are required; call 407-434-4434 to schedule testing.
Beyond that, the message is that if people can do the small things like washing hands frequently, maintaining six-foot distancing and, most importantly, following the county mandate to wear a face covering in public places since April that Orange County put in place Thursday, this spread can be greatly slowed.
“The masks are not a punishment or political statement. They are a public health safety precaution,” County Commission Chair Viviana Janer said Friday. “Yes, they can get hot. I carry three with me and change them out through the day. But it’s an important measure, and only works if everyone takes part. I’m proud of our community who are doing their part to take responsibility. Those who don’t will make the end of this crisis be farther out than any of us want it to be.”
According to the Department of Health, 86% of the state’s 3,104 fatalities due to the virus are over 65 years old.
