SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. — The latest Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report indicates Seminole County has the third-highest positivity rate among Florida's 67 counties at nearly 43%.
What You Need To Know
- Seminole County places third among Florida counties in highest COVID-19 positivity rate
- Escambia and Holmes counties were the only two to outpace it, in Monday’s CDC data
- Health experts warn, as the rates tick upward, “most people are going to get COVID”
The county has a positivity rate of 42.96% over the past seven days, according to the CDC.
Monday’s data drop showed a 46.59% rate for Escambia County and a 46.21% rate for Holmes County. Orange County followed closely behind Seminole County with a 42.46% rate.
“Most people are going to get COVID, alright," U.S. Food and Drug Administration Acting Commissioner Dr. Janet Woodcock has said. "And what we need to do is make sure the hospitals can still function.”
Florida hospitals are included in a nationwide trend of most beds being full and staff running short. According to the Florida Hospital Association (FHA), most beds are full, but just a portion are occupied by COVID-19 patients.
“The substantial number of absolute cases is resulting in hospitalization increases across all age groups, including children ages 0 to 4,” CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said.
Health officials are working to get vaccines approved for children under the age of 5.
“We are working closely with the manufacturers, the vaccines, on accelerating and making sure vaccines are available for the youngest children,” Woodcock said.