January 20 COVID data update
BY JENNIFER CABRERA
[Editor’s note: This information is provided to put the COVID-19 data in context and show trends. We are presenting the data as reported by Florida Department of Health with the understanding that the data is messy, and each day’s update changes multiple previous days. We believe that individuals should have access to as much information as possible so they can make decisions about their risks; you can find our opinions about government actions in the COVID-19 category on the site.]
According to the state dashboard, Alachua County reported an increase of 150 positive COVID-19 tests today, with an official test positivity rate of 5.80%. No new deaths were reported.
Of the people whose positive tests came back yesterday, 17 were 65 or older (this is the important number to track because those are the people who are more likely to have bad outcomes).
A total of 156 deaths have been reported in the county, 48 of which were in long-term care.
The overall number of people (from all counties) hospitalized here for COVID-19 decreased from 227 to 217.
State COVID-19 hospitalizations decreased from 7,363 to 7,147 today.
The state reported 11,914 new positive tests (official positivity rate of 10.73%) and a net increase of 142 deaths, 43 of which were from long-term care facilities.
Changes in deaths were reported on 22 different dates, going back to December 20.
Changes in the number of deaths by month: December (+2-2), January (+143-1)
The peaks are on July 30/31 (235) and August 4 (239), and the 7-day moving average peak is August 5 (227).
This chart uses different colors to show how the reported deaths stack up by date:
Here is the full chart for context:
The state also publishes a chart of the percentage of new tests that are positive by day (this chart is for the whole state), showing the trend over the past 14 days.
This chart shows the trend in positivity rate for Alachua County.
This chart shows the number of negative tests reported in Alachua County by day, which gives an idea of the volume of testing:
The 7-day moving average of new cases is at 142 through yesterday’s cases. Here is the 7-day average of new cases for the past 14 days:
The state has vaccinated a total of 1,122,405 people (111,188 have received the complete series), and Alachua County has vaccinated 23,222 people, over 8.5% of the population (6,027 have received the complete series). Vaccines were administered first to healthcare and front-line workers, with vaccines being rolled out to people 65 and older now.
Here is the age distribution for the state, with gray bars showing yesterday’s vaccinations and the green bars showing cumulative vaccinations; age distribution for the county is not available:
The Alachua County Board of Commission has responded to questions that I asked about the vaccination program. First, they indicated that they are not in charge of the Alachua County Health Department. Okay! But they use the departments advice on determining protection policy. And they are always included in the Covid updates in commission meetings.
Our Alachua County Covid dashboard is included in our Alachua County News and can be accessed from their website.
I addressed the following issues for Covid vaccination info:
Phone calls go voice message box is full and says call back
There is no system to actually set up an appointment even for a date further our based on age
They do not ask if you have pre-determined conditions and a physician that could support
Even the form that is required to be answered does not ask various important questions
Here’s a portion of my questions:
The Moderna form that I worked on today for the vaccine provided by Florida Health Alachua County, it simply asked about if one had been tested positive within last 2 weeks. Let’s assume I have never been tested, yet at the point of vaccination, I’m positive. One should not get it if positive, according to CDC.
This is why we should connect with the Commission meeting on Monday night. My point was that a rapid test at least should be involved in this process. The CDC recommends that one should not be positive at the time of vaccination with those more at risk with pre-existing condition especially.
My final point is that the state distribution plan at the federal level may be changing even thought the CDC had adopted the Florida plan. Which states will receive more vaccine even if they have not used it?
Take good care! J