COVID-19 update: For second day in a row, Florida sets record for most new cases of the pandemic

South Florida Sun Sentinel - 12/27/2021

Florida’s omicron-fueled COVID-19 surge continued over the Christmas holiday as the state reported 32,850 new cases Saturday, breaking the record for daily cases set just one day before, according to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control.

The 7-day average for new cases is 21,125 as of Saturday, passing 20,000 for the first time since the peak of the summer surge caused by the delta variant. The December surge has been driven by a rush to get tested ahead of the holidays and as the omicron variant becomes the dominant strain of newly reported cases.

Hospitalizations for COVID-19 have also been climbing. As of Friday. 1,781 adults were hospitalized with confirmed coronavirus cases, the highest since the end of October.

Also on Saturday, the CDC shows that 41 of Florida’s 67 counties are now considered at “high” risk of community transmission as case counts and positivity rates soared over the last week. Broward County has a positivity rate of 19.36% on Saturday, Miami-Dade County’s was 17.81% and Palm Beach County’s was 14.83%. Public health experts say the virus is considered under control when the COVID-19 test positivity rate is under 5%.

As of Saturday, at least 3,897,138 Floridians have been infected by COVID-19. With no new deaths reported by Florida on Saturday, the total death count remained at least 62,264.

In December, Florida has climbed in the per capita rankings for new cases from near last to 9th as of Saturday. The state has 83 cases per 100,000 residents. For deaths. Florida ranks last with 0.1 deaths per 100,000.

Meanwhile, vaccinations in Florida are averaging 86,439 doses per day in Florida, largely because of a surge in booster shots, CDC data shows. As of Friday, 63% of Floridians are now fully vaccinated and 28% of those who are vaccinated have received booster shots.

Here are the key statistics in Florida to watch: