Florida added 2,345 covid deaths to the state’s pandemic total last week.
Join our family of readers for as little as $5 per month and support local, unbiased journalism.
Already have an account? Log in to continue. Otherwise, follow the link below to join.
Please log in to continue |
Florida added 2,345 covid deaths to the state’s pandemic total last week. As of Aug. 26, a total of 43,979 Floridians haf died related to COVID-19. As of Sept. 2, the state’s covid death total was 46,324. According to the Florida Department of Health, there is often a delay between the date a person dies and the date the death is added to the total, so some of those recently recorded deaths may have occurred before Aug. 27, and some covid-related deaths from last week may not yet be included.
To date, Florida deaths by age are:
• Under age 16: 13 (+2 in the past two weeks);
• Ages 16-29: 283 (+76 in the past two weeks;
• Ages 30-39: 621 (+119 in the past two weeks):
• Ages 40-49: 1,659 (+315 in the past two weeks);
• Ages 50-59: 3,921 (+608 in the pat two weeks);
• Ages 60-64: 3,454 (+394 in the past two weeks);
• Ages 65+: 36,373 (+2,558 in the pat two weeks).
State data shows men are more likely to die from covid. To date, 1.2% of women who tested positive have died from covid, while 1.7% percent of men who tested positive had died from the virus.
Statistics show unvaccinated persons over age 65 remain at the highest risk. Those over age 65 make up 21% of the state’s year round population, yet this age group accounted for 62.6% of covid deaths reported in the past two weeks. The recent covid deaths also show the risk to younger Floridians is growing as the highly contagious delta variant spreads.
The Florida Department of Health has not released information on how many of the recent deaths were unvaccinated vs. vaccinated. Nationwide data from the Centers for Disease Control found the vaccines are highly effective in preventing hospitalizations and deaths from the virus. A Kaiser Foundation study found the majority of covid patients hospitalized are unvaccinated. Information released last week by Palm Beach County hospitals showed about 85% of hospitalized covid patients were unvaccinated. Studies conducted by universities in several states found less than 1% of those who have died from covid since May were vaccinated.
The data shows that while vaccinated persons can become infected with covid, they are much less likely to require hospitalization.
Statewide, 69% of Floridians over the age of 12 have been vaccinated. For counties around the lake vaccination rates are:
• Glades County: 49%;
• Hendry County: 54%;
• Martin County: 66%;
• Okeechobee County: 47%;
• Palm Beach County: 72%.
Statewide, Florida had 129,240 new covid cases, Aug. 27-Sept. 2 and the new case positivity was 15.2%.
Around the big lake new cases and positivity rates for the week were:
• Glades County: 52 new cases, 26.1%;
• Hendry County: 573 new cases, 28%;
• Martin County: 345 new cases, 15%;
• Okeechobee County: 484 new cases, 32%;
• Palm Beach County: 6,863 new cases, 12.6%.
The state has more than 1,000 free vaccination sites. Vaccinations are available by appointment or walk-in. To find a vaccination site near you, go online to https://floridahealthcovid19.gov/vaccines/vaccine-locator/