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May 18 update: 5 new cases, 1.3% positive tests

BY JENNIFER CABRERA

According to the state dashboard, Alachua County has a total of 337 COVID-19-positive cases. That’s an increase of 5 from yesterday on 386 test results, so 1.3% of these results were positive. It is generally accepted that if the positive test rate is under 10%, there is no outbreak in the community.

Seven deaths have been reported in the county. Six of the seven deaths were from long-term care facilities. The 7 deaths were first reported as positive cases on April 9 (2), April 18 (2), April 20, April 21, and April 23.

64 people have been hospitalized–no increase in the past four days. Hospitalizations may include people who don’t live in Alachua County.

The website with current numbers of long-term care cases in Alachua County hasn’t been updated yet. Yesterday’s report showed 65 cases in these facilities–no change in the past two days. 47 of those cases are at Parklands Care Center. The chart says, “The data is not cumulative but reflects the information available for current residents and staff with cases as of yesterday’s date.” (The top line shows totals for the state.)

Available bed capacity in Alachua County is 27.29%.

The state has 46,442 cases (an increase of 854 from yesterday on 24,629 new test results) and 1,997 deaths (an increase of 24 from yesterday, 18 of which were from long-term care facilities).

The state is also now publishing a chart of the percentage of new tests that are positive by day (this chart is for the whole state), and yesterday’s positive rate was 3.19%.

Dade County has 35% of the state’s cases. Broward has 14%; Palm Beach 10%; Orange has 4%, and Hillsborough has 4%. Alachua County represents about 1.2% of the state’s population and 0.725% of the state’s cases.

11,149 test results have come back so far in Alachua County (up 386 from yesterday), and 10,798 tests have come back negative, so 96.85% of the tests so far have been negative. Only 3% of the local tests have come back positive so far, and 5 of yesterday’s tests came back positive, for a positive rate of 1.3%.

Here is the official graph for Alachua County:

Also, the percentage of emergency department visits for cough, fever, and shortness of breaths is near zero:

According to the daily report, there are 267 cases in Gainesville, 14 in Alachua, 13 in Newberry, 8 in Hawthorne, 5 in High Springs, 4 in Waldo, 4 in Tioga, 3 in Micanopy, 1 in LaCrosse, 1 in Santa Fe, and 1 in Archer. 1 case is listed in the city of “Missing” in Alachua County. Location data is not available for all cases.

The 7-day moving average of new cases is at 3.1 up through yesterday’s cases (assuming we don’t have complete numbers for today yet). Here is the 7-day average of new cases for the past 14 days, with a trendline. Keep in mind that this line could start moving up if we continue to test high numbers of people, but the important number is the percentage of positive test results.

Cases by zip code

32044: 0 cases

32601: 60 cases

32603: <5 cases

32605: 28 cases

32606: 15 cases

32607: 37 cases

32608: 53 cases

32609: 30 cases

32610: <5 cases

32611: 0 cases

32615: 14 cases

32618: <5 cases

32622: 0 cases

32631: 0 cases

32640: 8 cases

32641: 25 cases

32643: 5 cases

32653: 15 cases

32666: 0 cases

32667: <5 cases

32669: 17 cases

32694: <5 cases

Testing information

Drive-Thru COVID-19 Testing
The Florida Department of Health in Alachua County (DOH-Alachua) is offering evening drive-thru COVID-19 testing on Wednesdays, from 4-7 p.m. This is in addition to their regular testing schedule. DOH-Alachua is offering COVID-19 testing to Alachua County residents, regardless of symptoms. Residents who want a COVID-19 test are asked to call 352-334-8810 for an appointment. A referral from a doctor is not required. If your insurance covers this, it will be billed (no copay is required). If not, it is free.

COVID-19 Testing Available in East Gainesville
The Florida Department of Health in Alachua County, in partnership with COVID-19 Student Service Corp, is offering walk-up and drive-up testing in east Gainesville. Neither symptoms nor a doctor’s referral are required. The tests are being administered Thursday, May 21 from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. at GTEC (2153 SE Hawthorne Rd., Suite 101).

COVID-19 Testing Results Phone Line
The Department of Health in Alachua County has set up a dedicated line for residents to call for COVID-19 test results. The phone number is 352-334-8828, and it is staffed Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

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