As predicted by local health experts, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) now lists Leon County as low risk for transmission of COVID-19 — a label that comes with approval of maskless gatherings in indoor, public spaces.
The CDC data meant to guide decision-making takes into account current hospital beds occupied by COVID patients and capacity in addition to the case numbers, which previously dominated its metrics.
On Monday, HCA Florida Capital Hospital, which was previously Capital Regional Medical Center, reported 12 COVID-positive patients.
Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare had seven, according to spokesperson Rebeccah Lutz. Beginning Monday, the hospital discontinued its daily dashboard that provided metrics on the virus inside the hospital.
Last week, there were 40 people hospitalized with COVID between the two hospitals.
Last week:Cases, hospitalizations plummet, school district deactivates dashboard
While the pandemic’s grip on the capital county has dramatically improved, February was the deadliest month in terms of COVID-related deaths since October when the delta variant ravaged the capital city and the nation. Both hospitals reported a total of 37 deaths: 19 at HCA Florida Capital Hospital and 18 at TMH.
In January, there were 21 COVID-related deaths between the two medical facilities. In December, there were 10.
Cases statewide
Florida reported far fewer coronavirus cases in the week ending Sunday, adding 13,823 new cases. That’s down 45.8% from the previous week’s tally of 25,523 new cases of the virus that causes COVID-19.
Florida ranked 42nd among the states where coronavirus was spreading the fastest on a per-person basis, a USA TODAY Network analysis of Johns Hopkins University data shows. In the latest week coronavirus cases in the United States decreased 30.4% from the week before, with 323,600 cases reported. With 6.45% of the country’s population, Florida had 4.27% of the country’s cases in the last week. Across the country, five states had more cases in the latest week than they did in the week before.
Local breakdown
- Leon County reported 223 cases and 12 deaths in the latest week. A week earlier, it had reported 327 cases and 24 deaths. Throughout the pandemic it has reported 85,491 cases and 606 deaths.
- Gadsden County reported 12 cases and 13 deaths in the latest week. A week earlier, it had reported 52 cases and four deaths. Throughout the pandemic it has reported 13,399 cases and 185 deaths.
- Wakulla County reported 23 cases and minus one death in the latest week. A week earlier, it had reported 47 cases and three deaths. Throughout the pandemic it has reported 9,911 cases and 118 deaths.
- Jefferson County reported nine cases and five deaths in the latest week. A week earlier, it had reported 27 cases and zero deaths. Throughout the pandemic it has reported 3,944 cases and 44 deaths.
- Franklin County reported zero cases and one death in the latest week. A week earlier, it had reported two cases and three deaths. Throughout the pandemic it has reported 3,107 cases and 50 deaths.
- Jackson County reported 45 cases and three deaths in the latest week. A week earlier, it had reported 51 cases and eight deaths. Throughout the pandemic it has reported 14,781 cases and 258 deaths.
Across Florida, cases fell in 64 counties, with the best declines in Hillsborough County, with 851 cases from 2,976 a week earlier; in Miami-Dade County, with 2,121 cases from 3,209; and in Orange County, with 1,130 cases from 1,969.
>> See how your community has fared with recent coronavirus cases
Vaccines by the numbers
Florida ranked 19th among states in share of people receiving at least one shot, with 78.2% of its residents at least partially vaccinated. The national rate is 76.5%, a USA TODAY analysis of CDC data shows. The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, which are the most used in the United States, require two doses administered a few weeks apart.
In the week ending Sunday, Florida reported administering another 135,375 vaccine doses, including 39,771 first doses. In the previous week, the state administered 137,253 vaccine doses, including 40,561 first doses. In all, Florida reported it has administered 36,228,497 total doses.
Adding the most new cases overall were Miami-Dade County, with 2,121 cases; Orange County, with 1,130 cases; and Broward County, with 1,095. Weekly case counts rose in three counties from the previous week. The worst increases from the prior week’s pace were in St. Lucie, Gulf and Okeechobee counties.
In Florida, 1,207 people were reported dead of COVID-19 in the week ending Sunday. In the week before that, 888 people were reported dead.
A total of 5,858,052 people in Florida have tested positive for the coronavirus since the pandemic began, and 70,997 people have died from the disease, Johns Hopkins University data shows. In the United States 79,271,466 people have tested positive and 958,621 people have died.
>> Track coronavirus cases across the United States
Florida’s COVID-19 hospital admissions falling
USA TODAY analyzed federal hospital data as of Sunday, March 6.
Likely COVID patients admitted in the state:
- Last week: 3,573
- The week before that: 4,631
- Four weeks ago: 10,144
Likely COVID patients admitted in the nation:
- Last week: 58,950
- The week before that: 66,535
- Four weeks ago: 131,215
Hospitals in one states reported more COVID-19 patients than a week earlier, while hospitals in three states had more COVID-19 patients in intensive-care beds. Hospitals in seven states admitted more COVID-19 patients in the latest week than a week prior, the USA TODAY analysis of U.S. Health and Human Services data shows.
Christopher Cann contributed. The USA TODAY Network is publishing localized versions of this story on its news sites across the country, generated with data from Johns Hopkins University and the Centers for Disease Control. If you have questions about the data or the story, contact Mike Stucka at mstucka@gannett.com.
