Florida Leads U.S. in Covid-19 Cases as Hospitalizations Surge

[TomCADem]

Source: Wall Street Journal

MIAMI—Florida is recording more Covid-19 cases than any other U.S. state, as hospitalizations in some areas increase at the fastest rate since the start of the pandemic.

The state accounts for one in five new infections in the U.S. and logged 67,413 cases over the past week, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Florida had 314 cases per 100,000 people over the past week, second only to Louisiana. The weekly total of new cases reported by Florida jumped more than fourfold between July 1 and July 22, reaching its highest point since mid-January.

Epidemiologists say various factors are at play: large numbers of unvaccinated people, a relaxation of preventive measures like mask-wearing and social distancing, the spread of the highly contagious Delta variant of the coronavirus and the congregation of people indoors during hot summer months.

“All of those things together are a recipe for the data that we’re seeing,” said Jason Salemi, an epidemiologist at the University of South Florida. “It’s a cause for concern...the speed with which the indicators are going up.”

Read more: https://www.wsj.com/articles/florida-leads-u-s-in-covid-19-cases-as-hospitalizations-surge-11627131600

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Given that Florida is pretty densely population and is still under 50 percent fully vaccinated, it is crazy how DeSantis has been actively encouraging folks to distrust the CDC and has outlawed efforts to mitigate the spread of COVID. I mean even Alabama's Governor has started to be more outspoken about the need for people to get vaccinated.

# # #

1. Vermont
Number of people fully vaccinated: 418,829
Percentage of population fully vaccinated: 67.12

2. Massachusetts
Number of people fully vaccinated: 4,366,341
Percentage of population fully vaccinated: 63.35

3. Maine
Number of people fully vaccinated: 847,199
Percentage of population fully vaccinated: 63.03

4. Connecticut
Number of people fully vaccinated: 2,231,811
Percentage of population fully vaccinated: 62.6

5. Rhode Island
Number of people fully vaccinated: 643,774
Percentage of population fully vaccinated: 60.77

6. Maryland
Number of people fully vaccinated: 3,514,298
Percentage of population fully vaccinated: 58.13

7. New Hampshire
Number of people fully vaccinated: 786,808
Percentage of population fully vaccinated: 57.87

8. New Jersey
Number of people fully vaccinated: 5,096,321
Percentage of population fully vaccinated: 57.38

9. Washington
Number of people fully vaccinated: 4,333,260
Percentage of population fully vaccinated: 56.91

10. New Mexico
Number of people fully vaccinated: 1,183,675
Percentage of population fully vaccinated: 56.45

11. New York
Number of people fully vaccinated: 10,954,046
Percentage of population fully vaccinated: 56.31

12. Oregon
Number of people fully vaccinated: 2,334,660
Percentage of population fully vaccinated: 55.35

13. District of Columbia
Number of people fully vaccinated: 382,126
Percentage of population fully vaccinated: 54.14

14. Virginia
Number of people fully vaccinated: 4,594,024
Percentage of population fully vaccinated: 53.82

15. Colorado
Number of people fully vaccinated: 3,096,731
Percentage of population fully vaccinated: 53.77

16. Minnesota
Number of people fully vaccinated: 3,004,997
Percentage of population fully vaccinated: 53.28

17. Hawaii
Number of people fully vaccinated: 752,060
Percentage of population fully vaccinated: 53.12

18. California
Number of people fully vaccinated: 20,553,610
Percentage of population fully vaccinated: 52.02

19. Delaware
Number of people fully vaccinated: 506,457
Percentage of population fully vaccinated: 52.01

20. Pennsylvania
Number of people fully vaccinated: 6,601,178
Percentage of population fully vaccinated: 51.56

21. Wisconsin
Number of people fully vaccinated: 2,986,410
Percentage of population fully vaccinated: 51.29

22. Iowa
Number of people fully vaccinated: 1,552,448
Percentage of population fully vaccinated: 49.2

23. Nebraska
Number of people fully vaccinated: 946,549
Percentage of population fully vaccinated: 48.93

24. Michigan
Number of people fully vaccinated: 4,837,915
Percentage of population fully vaccinated: 48.44

25. Florida
Number of people fully vaccinated: 10,320,953
Percentage of population fully vaccinated: 48.05

26. Illinois
Number of people fully vaccinated: 6,073,610
Percentage of population fully vaccinated: 47.93

27. South Dakota
Number of people fully vaccinated: 411,392
Percentage of population fully vaccinated: 46.5

28. Ohio
Number of people fully vaccinated: 5,378,842
Percentage of population fully vaccinated: 46.02

29. Alaska
Number of people fully vaccinated: 329,981
Percentage of population fully vaccinated: 45.11

30. Kentucky
Number of people fully vaccinated: 2,010,070
Percentage of population fully vaccinated: 44.99

31. Arizona
Number of people fully vaccinated: 3,254,456
Percentage of population fully vaccinated: 44.71

32. Utah
Number of people fully vaccinated: 1,417,434
Percentage of population fully vaccinated: 44.21

33. Montana
Number of people fully vaccinated: 469,711
Percentage of population fully vaccinated: 43.95

34. Indiana
Number of people fully vaccinated: 2,943,569
Percentage of population fully vaccinated: 43.72

35. Nevada
Number of people fully vaccinated: 1,344,053
Percentage of population fully vaccinated: 43.64

36. Kansas
Number of people fully vaccinated: 1,259,549
Percentage of population fully vaccinated: 43.23

37. North Carolina
Number of people fully vaccinated: 4,533,215
Percentage of population fully vaccinated: 43.22

38. Texas
Number of people fully vaccinated: 12,503,152
Percentage of population fully vaccinated: 43.12

39. Missouri
Number of people fully vaccinated: 2,484,985
Percentage of population fully vaccinated: 40.49

40. South Carolina
Number of people fully vaccinated: 2,064,053
Percentage of population fully vaccinated: 40.09

41. North Dakota
Number of people fully vaccinated: 302,806
Percentage of population fully vaccinated: 39.74

42. Oklahoma
Number of people fully vaccinated: 1,571,398
Percentage of population fully vaccinated: 39.71

43. West Virginia
Number of people fully vaccinated: 696,799
Percentage of population fully vaccinated: 38.88

44. Tennessee
Number of people fully vaccinated: 2,637,211
Percentage of population fully vaccinated: 38.62

45. Georgia
Number of people fully vaccinated: 4,037,519
Percentage of population fully vaccinated: 38.03

46. Idaho
Number of people fully vaccinated: 661,753
Percentage of population fully vaccinated: 37.03

47. Louisiana
Number of people fully vaccinated: 1,690,044
Percentage of population fully vaccinated: 36.35

48. Wyoming
Number of people fully vaccinated: 209,600
Percentage of population fully vaccinated: 36.22

49. Arkansas
Number of people fully vaccinated: 1,074,872
Percentage of population fully vaccinated: 35.62

50. Mississippi
Number of people fully vaccinated: 1,012,480
Percentage of population fully vaccinated: 34.02

51. Alabama
Number of people fully vaccinated: 1,662,812
Percentage of population fully vaccinated: 33.91

[Deuxcents]

1. Ty.. good info

I’m in Florida and still acting like I did 15 months ago.. staying home, etc. I’ve become good friends with Xfinity and books. Trying to keep my mind active, at least.

[madville]

2. Yep, unfortunately it's affecting minorities the most

Blacks, followed by Hispanics have the highest rates of hospitalization and death in FL. Blacks are also the least vaccinated demographic, with only 26% vaccinated compared to 42% of Hispanics and 51% of Whites.

The Feds need to do some kind of outreach or something to get the Black and Hispanic communities in particular to trust the vaccine more and get the shots. They are readily available and free so access shouldn’t be an issue.

[IronLionZion]

3. Looks like the vaccine is widely available at Publix and local pharmacies

all over Florida. https://floridahealthcovid19.gov/vaccines/vaccine-locator/

[cinematicdiversions]

10. You can walk into any Walmart and get vaccinated for free within minutes.

It's just the ignorant. There is no access problem.

[speak easy]

4. In terms of vaccination, FL (48.05%) is not the worst offender

CA is not doing much better (52.02%) and TX is a bad (43.12%). NY is the best of the big states (56.31%).

[LisaL]

6. Yes, Fl is not that low vaxxed.

Their exploding cases are likely attributable to the removal of covid precautions.

[eppur_se_muova]

5. We're 51st out of 50 states ?!? Way to go AL ! nt

[IronLionZion]

11. Roll Tide!

It's 51 because the list includes DC

[eppur_se_muova]

12. I know, but that doesn't make it any less sad. nt

[IronLionZion]

13. Make it a competition, try to get above Mississippi nt

[eppur_se_muova]

14. Usually, MS is there to make AL look good. Not this time. nt

[DemocraticPatriot]

7. Come to Florida!! Catch COVID! Our governor will love you!!!

NO, ok? Not so much.

[TomCADem]

15. 'Sellout': Ron DeSantis Accused of Taking 'Bribe' by Conservatives After Promoting Vaccine

This is the problem with the Republican party. It is filled with opportunists who care more about their political ambitions, then the welfare of their constituents. So, they are happy to pursue policies that are divisive and detrimental in order to energize their base.

Of course, push anti-vax hysteria and racism has real world impacts. Promoting election lies undermines our democracy. Pushing anti-science hysteria undermines the ability to respond to the real world problems of climate change and pandemics.

Thus, when a Republicans tries to acknowledge reality albeit briefly, other Republicans are happy to attack them as sell outs.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/sellout-ron-desantis-accused-of-taking-bribe-by-conservatives-after-promoting-vaccine/ar-AAMwAEj?li=BBnb7Kz

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis' recent push of the coronavirus vaccine has provoked Republican ire, with some even accusing the GOP governor of taking bribes. Their pushback indicates the difficulties facing conservative leaders who have pivoted their messaging after months of vaccine disinformation by right-wing outlets.

* * *
"If you are vaccinated, fully vaccinated, the chances of you getting seriously ill or dying from COVID is effectively zero," DeSantis added.

His remarks came as Florida topped the nation in new COVID-19 cases, with hospitalizations in some areas climbing to its highest rate since the pandemic started last year. The state recorded 67,413 new cases of COVID-19 over the past week, which accounts for 20 percent of total infections across the country, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

But negative reactions to DeSantis' vaccine push among vaccine-resistant individuals and new polling data suggests that it could be too late to change the minds of those who refuse to get the shot. Former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn accused DeSantis of "trying to be politically correct" in his promotion of the vaccine. "That's a dangerous place to be for people in this country who do have influence," Flynn said.

[ananda]

8. Austin is 70% or more.

...

[Scruffy1]

9. El Paso is about the same.