COVID-19 related deaths on the Space Coast increased this past week, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
From July 2 to July 9, 37 people died of COVID-19 in Brevard County. The Space Coast hasn’t seen this many deaths in a week since the omicron variant’s record-breaking spread in January.
The uptick in deaths comes after the CDC reported no new deaths last week, which was unusual. It’s important to note all the data is provisional and can change. Since the start of the pandemic, there have been 2,051 COVID-19 related deaths in Brevard County.
Previously:COVID-19 cases increase as Space Coast remains a community of high transmission
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Despite the increase in deaths, COVID-19 cases saw a slight decrease this week.
Data released Friday by the Florida Department of Health shows that from July 8 to July 14, there were 303.7 cases per 100,000 population which means there were 1,059 total cases this week. Last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 319.8 cases per 100,000 population. The new case positivity rate decreased from 23.1% last week to 19.2% this week.
However, there could be far more infections in the community than are tracked because at-home test kit results go unreported and not everyone who is symptomatic takes a COVID-19 test.
Because hospitalization and case rates this past week remained elevated, Brevard County is still a community of high COVID-19 transmission. The CDC calculates transmission levels through a combination of hospitalizations and case rates.
The CDC reported that there were 92 COVID-19 admissions from July 7 to July 13 across the Space Coast. The CDC said hospitalizations didn’t increase or decrease this week but last week’s numbers showed 89 people hospitalized so it wasn’t immediately clear why the CDC reported no change between the two weeks.
The CDC advises that in communities of high transmission, residents should mask-up indoors, vaccinate and take a COVID-19 test when feeling unwell.
Thus far, 67% of the eligible population — those ages 6 months and older — have received at least one dose of a vaccine.
According to FDOH, of the eligible population in Florida, age group vaccination rates across the state are:
- Ages 6 months- 4 years, 1.0% vaccinated.
- Ages 5-11, 24% vaccinated.
- Ages 12-19, 64% vaccinated.
- Ages 20-29, 65% vaccinated.
- Ages 30-39, 72% vaccinated.
- Ages 40-49, 80% vaccinated.
- Ages 50-59, 84% vaccinated.
- Ages 60-64, 88% vaccinated.
- Ages 65+, 94% vaccinated.
Nationwide, 71.3% of Americans ages 5 and older have been fully vaccinated. There have been 89,067,445 COVID-19 cases and 1,018,578 deaths nationwide since the start of the pandemic.
Where to get vaccinated
The Florida Department of Health is offering COVID-19 vaccines at three sites.
- Viera clinic, at 2555 Judge Fran Jamieson Way.
- Melbourne clinic, 601 E. University Blvd.
- Titusville clinic, 611 N. Singleton Ave.
Residents also can get vaccinated at Omni Healthcare’s offices, as well as at its walk-in vaccination clinic located in Suite 303 on the third floor of 1344 S. Apollo Blvd. in Melbourne, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays. Vaccinations also are available from 9 a.m. to noon in Suite 2C of Omni’s 1344 S. Apollo Blvd. complex.
Amira Sweilem is the data reporter at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Sweilem at 386-406-5648 or asweilem@floridatoday.com.
