COVID-19 cases on the Space Coast saw another decrease this past week, according to data released by the Florida Department of Health. And according to new guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Brevard County is now a community of low transmission — though under the old guidelines the county would be classified as one of substantial transmission.
The drop in infection rates marks the seventh week in a row that Brevard County has seen a decline in cases. From Feb.25 to Mar. 3, cases fell by half. According to FDOH data, there were 58.9 cases per 100,000 population in that time compared to last week’s rate of 107.3 cases per 100,000. At the same time case positivity from Feb.25 to Mar. 3 fell to 2.6% from 5.0% the week before.
However, at an emergency management meeting FDOH-Brevard community health nursing director John Davis explained that there is always more disease in a community circulating than is reported.
And according to the new Centers for Disease Control Guidelines, these figures in tandem with the number of hospitalizations and hospital capacity in the county make the Space Coast a community of low transmission.
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But, according to the old guidelines, Brevard County would still be considered a community of high transmission as cases per 100,000 population are in the 50-100 range. To be a community of low transmission according to the old guidelines, the Space Coast would need to have less than 10 cases per 100,000 or a percent positivity rate of less than 5%.
According to data from the US Department of Health and Human Services, as of Feb. 28, Health First’s four hospitals — Holmes Regional Medical Center, Palm Bay Hospital, Viera Hospital, and Cape Canaveral Hospital — ICU capacity was at 11.76%, 8.33%, 10% and 16.67% respectively.
At Parrish Medical Center in Titusville, ICU capacity was at 58.33%. At Rockledge Regional Medical Center ICU capacity was at 32.26% and at Steward Regional Medical Center ICU capacity was at 25%.
Though there were 360 positive COVID-19 cases, the vaccination rate saw marginal improvements. Only 301 individuals were vaccinated from Feb. 25 to Mar. 3. And for the fifth week in a row, only 70% of the eligible population— those five years of age and older—on the Space Coast has received at least one dose of a vaccine as of Mar. 3.
There were 13 COVID related deaths from Feb.19 to Feb. 26 on the Space Coast, according to provisional CDC data. A total of 1,852 people in Brevard County have died since the start of the pandemic.
Statewide, 70,997 Floridians have died of COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic. And from Feb. 25 to Mar. 3, 1,207 Floridians have died of COVID-19.
There were 64.4 cases per 100,000 population across Florida and 3.3% of Floridians tested positive for COVID-19 from Feb. 25 to Mar. 3.
Despite the continued deaths and positive cases statewide, the vaccination rate also remains stagnant, with only 74% of eligible Floridians having 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 5-11, 22% vaccinated.
- Ages 12-19, 60% vaccinated.
- Ages 20-29, 62% vaccinated.
- Ages 30-39, 71% vaccinated.
- Ages 40-49, 78% vaccinated.
- Ages 50-59, 83% vaccinated.
- Ages 60-64, 90% vaccinated.
- Ages 65+, 95% vaccinated.
Nationwide, there have been 79,031,738 cases and 953,569 COVID-19 related deaths since the start of the pandemic. Currently, 69.2% of eligible Americans have been fully vaccinated.
Where to get tested:
The following Brevard County Emergency Management Office-supported sites are available for COVID-19 testing.
- Florida Department of Health-Brevard, 2555 Judge Fran Jamison Way, Viera; 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. This is a walk-up site. Preregister at nomihealth.com.
- Parrish Medical Center, 951 N. Washington Ave., Titusville; 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Sunday. This is a drive-thru site. No appointments are required.
- West Melbourne Community Park, 3000 Minton Road, West Melbourne (use Fell Road entrance to the park); 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Sunday. This is a walk-up site, with preregistration recommended, but walk-ins are welcome. Preregister at patientportalfl.com.
Testing also is available to established or new Omni Healthcare patients at its offices in Brevard County. To book an appointment, patients can call their Omni doctor’s office.
Various other urgent-care centers, private physicians’ offices and pharmacies also provide COVID-19 tests, and some retailers sell in-home test kits. Additionally, the website www.211Brevard.org has a list of sites offering testing. Some of those sites require reservations, while others allow walk-ins.
Where to get vaccinated:
The Florida Department of Health is offering COVID-19 vaccines at three sites.
- Melbourne clinic, 601 E. University Blvd., 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays. Those ages 5-11 can get vaccinated only from 1:30 to 4 p.m. on Friday.
- Titusville clinic, 611 N. Singleton Ave., 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays. Those ages 5-11 can get vaccinated only from 1:30 to 4 p.m. on Friday.
- Viera clinic, 2555 Judge Fran Jamieson Way, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays. Those ages 5-11 can get vaccinated only from 8 to 11:30 a.m. and 1 to 4 p.m. Monday to Friday.
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.
Walk-ins are accepted. But appointments can be made by calling 321-802-5515 or by emailing the request and including a name and phone number to COVID@OMNIhealthcare.com.
COVID-19 vaccines also are available at pharmacies at various local CVS, Publix, Sam’s Club, Walgreens, Walmart and Winn-Dixie stores, as well as some urgent-care centers and physician offices. Check the individual site for appointment requirements and vaccine availability.
Monoclonal antibody treatments:
Dependent on the weekly allocation that Omni Healthcare receives from the state of Florida, Omni Healthcare will continue to administer the monoclonal antibody treatment sotrovimab to patients.
Those interested in receiving the treatment can check whether supply is available that week on the website omnihealthcare.com and at covid19testbrevard.com. However, because of the nationwide shortage, eligibility is limited to patients who are unvaccinated and meet CDC guidelines.
Treatment will be administered at Omni’s offices on 1344 S. Apollo Blvd. Suite 303, in Melbourne, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays; and at 845 Century Medical Drive, Suite B, in Titusville, from 1 to 4 p.m. on weekdays.
Amira Sweilem is the data reporter at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Sweilem at 386-406-5648 or asweilem@floridatoday.com.
