May 20 update: 5 new cases, 0.4% positive tests

BY JENNIFER CABRERA

According to the state dashboard, Alachua County now has a cumulative total of 344 COVID-19-positive cases. That’s an increase of 5 from yesterday on 1,235 test results (by far the highest test day so far), so 0.4% of these results were positive.

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

70 people (total) have been hospitalized–an increase of 4 from yesterday. 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 today, but yesterday it showed 69 cases in these facilities, an increase of 2 from the last report, 2 days ago. 51 of those cases are at Parklands Care Center, an increase of 4 over the last report. 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 24.38%.

The state has 47,471 cases (an increase of 527 from yesterday on a massive 55,507 new test results) and 2,096 deaths (an increase of 47 from yesterday, 30 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 0.64%.

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 0.72% of the state’s cases.

12,864 test results have come back so far in Alachua County (up 1,235 from yesterday), and 12,506 tests have come back negative, so 97% of the tests so far have been negative. Only 2.7% of the local tests have come back positive so far, and 5 of yesterday’s tests came back positive, for a positive rate of 0.4%.

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 (normal baseline is around 2%):

According to the daily report, there are 272 cases in Gainesville, 15 in Newberry, 14 in Alachua, 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 2.6 through yesterday’s cases. 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: 31 cases

32610: <5 cases

32611: 0 cases

32615: 14 cases

32618: <5 cases

32622: 0 cases

32631: 0 cases

32640: 8 cases

32641: 26 cases

32643: 5 cases

32653: 18 cases

32666: 0 cases

32667: <5 cases

32669: 19 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.