The Keys report a record number of new COVID-19 cases. It’s not as bad as it seems, health official says
The Florida Health Department in the Keys reported 74 new cases of COVID-19 Saturday, which is the highest ever reported in the island chain. But the number is not quite as bad as it appears, according to Monroe County’s top health official.
The numbers reflect cases confirmed both Thursday and Friday, Robert Eadie said. The reason all the cases weren’t reported Friday from Thursday is Eadie, the administrator and health officer, gave the department’s epidemiologist the day off.
Still, he said he is concerned by the amount of people testing positive.
The number of cases have recently been climbing at a greater pace than they had been exhibiting in the Keys when single-day cases would tend toward single digit growth and the death rate would hold steady for days at a time.
In fact, even with the epidemiologist’s day off, 25 new cases were reported on Friday — which is still significantly higher than an average day a week ago.
Rising Keys cases
From Sunday to Monday last week, for instance, the Florida Department of Health confirmed 13 more cases of the novel coronavirus in the Keys, bringing the total official number to 380. Five people had died since reporting began in March.
But by Wednesday, 29 single-day cases were reported and one new death was added to bring the total to six — where it has hovered since.
And now, the 74 figure, which is still more than twice the two-day total of any previous reporting period.
The total has risen to 544 confirmed cases in the Florida Keys as of Saturday.
“At the end of the day, a positive case is a positive case,” Eadie said. “I’m concerned that the numbers are going up, and that’s a direct result that some people didn’t think it was a serious matter.”
Eadie also doesn’t support putting tougher measures in place, like closing off the Keys again to tourists. That’s because hospitalization rates in the Keys remain low — around five.
And, he said the people in the hospital who tested positive for COVID-19 did not go there to be treated for the virus. They were there for other ailments or injuries, but tested positive.
Statewide numbers
Florida’s Department of Health on Friday confirmed 10,360 new cases of COVID-19, making it the third-highest single-day total recorded since the pandemic began in March.
The highest 24-hour total recorded in the state was reported on July 4, with 11,458 new cases. Friday had 11,433, the second-highest single-day total.
Florida now has 254,511 confirmed cases. There were also 95 new deaths announced, raising the statewide death toll to 4,197.
This story was originally published July 11, 2020 at 3:42 PM with the headline "The Keys report a record number of new COVID-19 cases. It’s not as bad as it seems, health official says."
