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steve2470

(37,457 posts)
Tue Mar 31, 2020, 12:53 PM Mar 2020

22% of Florida's counties are showing ZERO cases of COVID-19...hmm.....

67 total counties
15 counties which each show ZERO cases, per https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/96dd742462124fa0b38ddedb9b25e429

That's 22.3% (rounded down to 22)

Truly no infections, or, more likely, lack of testing ? Funny they are all red counties, except for Jefferson which I think goes blue along with Leon County (Tallahassee). eta: Gadsden is blue also.

1 Calhoun
2 Dixie
3 Franklin
4 Gadsden
5 Gilchrist
6 Gulf
7 Hamilton
8 Hardee
9 Jefferson
10 Lafayette
11 Liberty
12 Madison
13 Okeechobee
14 Taylor
15 Union
29 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
22% of Florida's counties are showing ZERO cases of COVID-19...hmm..... (Original Post) steve2470 Mar 2020 OP
Wait till all the people from Miami run to all those "safe" countries to ride out the pandemic. dem4decades Mar 2020 #1
Same story in Texas. No tests, not a problem. Until it is. flying_wahini Mar 2020 #2
Its because they are rural ScratchCat Mar 2020 #3
zero cases ? sorry, I call bullshit steve2470 Mar 2020 #4
Sure there are truck drivers ScratchCat Mar 2020 #6
There's over 5,700 people in Florida Phoenix61 Mar 2020 #8
The Florida COVID-19 Dashboard is a good source. CaptainTruth Mar 2020 #11
As of tonight radical noodle Apr 2020 #26
Unfortunately those guidelines only allow testing of people 65 & older... CaptainTruth Mar 2020 #10
No ScratchCat Mar 2020 #13
Did you hear the Montana governor yesterday? JenniferJuniper Mar 2020 #18
Trump is sending DeSantis radical noodle Apr 2020 #27
So the Orange Country Sheriff's Office is lying? CaptainTruth Mar 2020 #21
For those not on Twitter, this is what the Orange County Sheriff has been tweeting. CaptainTruth Mar 2020 #22
Read up on 1918 JenniferJuniper Mar 2020 #12
Yep, I read that a tiny community in Alaska lost most of its population BigmanPigman Mar 2020 #24
It would be interesting to call the hospitals in those counties and ask.. nt mitch96 Mar 2020 #5
They don't have people living there - orange orchards - but patricia92243 Mar 2020 #7
I have lived in this state for 61 years, so yea I know how they are steve2470 Mar 2020 #16
I'm guessing you're right but if we had a map of defacto7 Mar 2020 #19
The northern counties did not have spring breakers here Darwin2019 Mar 2020 #9
Zero cases ? Give me good testing and then we'll talk.. West Virginia was like this too steve2470 Mar 2020 #17
The areas hit hardest are blue counties/states with some exceptions Cetacea Apr 2020 #29
Gadsden is blue. Regardless, we are way under testing in FL because DeSatan OrlandoDem2 Mar 2020 #14
oh did not know that about Gadsden, thanks nt steve2470 Mar 2020 #15
It's a bedroom of Leon County and heavily African American. OrlandoDem2 Mar 2020 #23
I think the Florida Covid reports are like the weather for tourists.. Sancho Mar 2020 #20
It may be that many of those counties no longer have hospitals csziggy Apr 2020 #25
Covid-19 is immune to lying. Vinnie From Indy Apr 2020 #28

ScratchCat

(1,977 posts)
3. Its because they are rural
Tue Mar 31, 2020, 01:01 PM
Mar 2020

and have no remote connection to international travel, people who have traveled or Covid-19 period. This is just like the bulk of America! There is no reason anyone in those areas would have it because there is nobody with it to spread it to them in those areas. That's science and math.

ScratchCat

(1,977 posts)
6. Sure there are truck drivers
Tue Mar 31, 2020, 01:15 PM
Mar 2020

But that doesn't result in one getting the virus. These counties are really "back woods". People don't get away much.

Think about this for a second:

Right now in Florida, we are testing people based upon CDC guidelines. That means they have a doctor's referral. These are the people who need to be tested the most because they have either had contact with someone who tested positive, traveled overseas or have symptoms. But the positive test rate is under 10%!! 90% of people who a doctor thought there was a good chance had it, didn't have it!! What does that mean? Likely that it doesn't transmit as easy as some are making it out to be, because if it did, we would have a MUCH higher positive test rate than 10%. Again.. THINK. We are testing people who have been "exposed", and 90% didn't get the virus!!

Phoenix61

(16,994 posts)
8. There's over 5,700 people in Florida
Tue Mar 31, 2020, 01:31 PM
Mar 2020

with confirmed covid. Based on your data that would mean over 57,000 people have been tested. I’m curious where you got your data from.

radical noodle

(7,997 posts)
26. As of tonight
Thu Apr 2, 2020, 12:00 AM
Apr 2020

69,265 people have been tested and 7559 were positive and 60,356 were negative. They are apparently waiting for results of 1350, because the numbers don't add up if all the tests are back.

CaptainTruth

(6,576 posts)
10. Unfortunately those guidelines only allow testing of people 65 & older...
Tue Mar 31, 2020, 01:33 PM
Mar 2020

...at all the drive-thru testing sites throughout the state. Meanwhile, those under 65 are turned away, even if they have all the symptoms.

From what I'm seeing, lots of under-65 folks with symptoms being refused tests, Florida has far more cases than the official number.

ScratchCat

(1,977 posts)
13. No
Tue Mar 31, 2020, 01:43 PM
Mar 2020

People under 65 are not being turned away from testing. That is 100% untrue. Nobody is being "refused a test". That's internet fiction.

JenniferJuniper

(4,507 posts)
18. Did you hear the Montana governor yesterday?
Tue Mar 31, 2020, 02:02 PM
Mar 2020

"We don't have an adequate number of tests".

To which Trumpsie responded, "first I've heard of that".

radical noodle

(7,997 posts)
27. Trump is sending DeSantis
Thu Apr 2, 2020, 12:02 AM
Apr 2020

everything he asks for because "Florida is important to the President's reelection."

CaptainTruth

(6,576 posts)
21. So the Orange Country Sheriff's Office is lying?
Tue Mar 31, 2020, 02:38 PM
Mar 2020

This is a tweet from the Orange County Sheriff's Office account on March 25:

IMPORTANT: Many people are being turned away from the testing site at the Orange County Convention Center because they don't meet the criteria. You must be 65 or older AND have a fever or other #coronavirus symptoms OR be a health worker or first responder. #COVID19 https://t.co/2C24i4mfjf

[link:


?s=19|]

CaptainTruth

(6,576 posts)
22. For those not on Twitter, this is what the Orange County Sheriff has been tweeting.
Tue Mar 31, 2020, 02:41 PM
Mar 2020

This refers to drive-thru testing at the Orange County Convention Center, & I believe all drive-thru testing centers throughout Florida.

[link:
?s=09|]

JenniferJuniper

(4,507 posts)
12. Read up on 1918
Tue Mar 31, 2020, 01:38 PM
Mar 2020

People in rural areas were not immune to the flu and many rural communities were completely devastated.

Granted, those in rural areas probably had fewer natural immunities than those living in urban areas, but today no one is really isolated. And if you feel immune because you live in a podunk town, you are far less likely to exercise necessary cautions. So if one or two people get it, the whole area may get it.

BigmanPigman

(51,568 posts)
24. Yep, I read that a tiny community in Alaska lost most of its population
Tue Mar 31, 2020, 06:09 PM
Mar 2020

during the Spanish Flu. It goes EVERYWHERE! The doctor need a tissue sample from a victim of 1918 and he was able to dig up a frozen and preserved woman and her lungs were intact with the influenza still in them. The town gave him permission and they did a ceremony to show respect.

patricia92243

(12,592 posts)
7. They don't have people living there - orange orchards - but
Tue Mar 31, 2020, 01:21 PM
Mar 2020

basically just a few people. I live next to a couple of these counties and know what I am talking about.

steve2470

(37,457 posts)
16. I have lived in this state for 61 years, so yea I know how they are
Tue Mar 31, 2020, 01:53 PM
Mar 2020

zero cases ? Give me good testing and then we'll talk... until then.... I call BS

defacto7

(13,485 posts)
19. I'm guessing you're right but if we had a map of
Tue Mar 31, 2020, 02:18 PM
Mar 2020

population density for each of those counties it might tell us the story in b&w. I think we could guess from that how they are treating the epidemic.

Darwin2019

(217 posts)
9. The northern counties did not have spring breakers here
Tue Mar 31, 2020, 01:33 PM
Mar 2020

I am in Tallahassee. FSU, FAMU and Tallahassee Community College all shut down fairly early so kids did not return here from spring break. The areas hardest hit are the tourist areas in the south. Not that hard to understand.

steve2470

(37,457 posts)
17. Zero cases ? Give me good testing and then we'll talk.. West Virginia was like this too
Tue Mar 31, 2020, 01:54 PM
Mar 2020

Until we get better testing in those counties, I call BS.

Not that hard to understand ? That was a rather gratuitous comment.....

Cetacea

(7,367 posts)
29. The areas hit hardest are blue counties/states with some exceptions
Thu Apr 2, 2020, 12:53 AM
Apr 2020

But they are generally much more populated.

Sancho

(9,067 posts)
20. I think the Florida Covid reports are like the weather for tourists..
Tue Mar 31, 2020, 02:24 PM
Mar 2020

completely chamber of commerce edited. In Pinellas Baycare set up 5 drive through test sites. They were out of tests in one day.

csziggy

(34,131 posts)
25. It may be that many of those counties no longer have hospitals
Wed Apr 1, 2020, 11:55 PM
Apr 2020

So any testing of people from them is done in other counties and is counted there.

For instance, Gadsden, Jefferson, Liberty, and Franklin counties all use the hospitals in Leon County for most serious medical needs. Madison, Hamilton, and Taylor can go to either Tallahassee or Jacksonville. Dixie, Lafayette, and Gilchrist go to Alachua County where the University of Florida has a hospital. Calhoun probably goes to Bay County.

Yes, they are mostly poor rural counties. Many used to have local medical facilities but do not any longer. So either the people are going to other counties or not being tested or treated at all.

It's not "funny that they are all red counties" it is tragic that they have less access to health care.

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