The Center for Disease and Control and Prevention has labeled Leon County as high risk for COVID-19 transmission as hospitalizations increase and cases remain above 1,500 per week, according to community level transmission data.
In areas with a high community transmission label, the CDC recommends people wear masks indoors and on public transportation as well as get tested when symptoms appear, according to the CDC’s website.
Leon County is not an outlier, however, as 60 of the state’s 67 counties are also considered high risk for infection.
Locally, COVID-19 hospitalizations have jumped and cases remain well above 1,000 per week.
Between June 24-30, there were 1,550 new infections in Leon County and the positivity rate was 23%, eclipsing the state’s 19%, according to a bi-weekly report from the Florida Department of Health.
Two weeks earlier, DOH reported 1,880 new infections and a 20% positivity rate in the capital city and county.
Since March 2020, Leon County has recorded a cumulative total of 93,612 cases.
Paxlovid:Why the main antiviral medicine for COVID may be underused
COVID discrepancies:Florida’s COVID-19 vaccination count jumps 263,000 in two weeks. DeSantis officials won’t say why
As of Tuesday, there were 38 people infected with the virus inside Tallahassee hospitals.
Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare had 20 patients with COVID. Sixteen were considered incidental, meaning they were primarily being treated for other illness or injuries.
HCA Florida Capital Hospital had 18 COVID-positive patients, said spokesperson Rachel Stiles.
Two weeks ago, TMH had 13 patients infected with the virus and HCA Florida Capital Hospital had 12.
Contact Christopher Cann at ccann@tallahassee.com and follow @ChrisCannFL on Twitter.
Never miss a story: Subscribe to the Tallahassee Democrat using the link at the top of the page.
