BY MARK J. CRAWFORD
Telegraph Editor
The number of COVID-19 cases has been rapidly rising across the country and locally.
Omicron causes less severe disease than previous versions of the virus, but it is more contagious — as much as three times more infectious, according to the CDC. The Delta variant continues to account for new infections as well.
There have been a record number of children and teens hospitalized. The increase in child and teen infections has taken place before many have gone back to school.
FDA has expanded an emergency use authorization for Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine boosters in children 12 to 15 years old. The waiting period for the booster was also lowered to five months for anyone over 12. Younger immunocompromised children have also been cleared for a third dose.
Moderna boosters are urged for adults who received their last shot six months ago or who received their last Johnson and Johnson shot two months ago.
The U.S. broke an international record Monday with more than 1 million new COVID-19 cases reported. Florida reported 298,455 more cases between Dec. 24 and Dec. 30. That’s more than twice as many cases reported for the week ending Dec. 23. Of all those tested, 26.5% were positive, compared to 13.8% the week before.
CDC has evaluated county-level data and Bradford, Union and Clay are high-transmission communities, along with most other Florida counties.
From Dec. 24–30, Bradford County had 101 new cases reported, up from 27 the week before. The weekly positivity rate went from 6.5% to 19.2%. Only 36 vaccinations occurred, leaving the vaccination rate at 47%.
Union County had 55 new cases, up from 21. The positivity rate increased from 8.7% to 20.2%. With 23 new vaccinations, the vaccination rate increased to 54%.
Clay County’s 1,198 new cases accounted for its 22.4% positivity rate. This was up from 8.5% last week based on 311 new cases. There were 597 vaccination shots, raising the vaccination rate to 56%.
According to the CDC, COVID-19 vaccines are highly effective at preventing severe illness, hospitalizations and death.
For more information on testing and vaccination, visit www.floridahealthcovid19.gov. In Bradford, call the health department at 904-964-7732. In Union, call 386-496-3211. In Clay, call 904-529-2800.
