Florida COVID-19: looking closer at percentages and statistics

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After Coronavirus hit the US in full force back in March, states and cities were forced into Stay at Home orders. The healthcare system became overwhelmed with an influx of new COVID-19 patients, and the quarantine helped to stop the spread and lessen the pressure on our hospitals and frontline workers. As the number of new cases started to flatten, people were becoming impatient and looking to get back to normal life. It’s difficult being stuck inside with no clear end date, but it’s also difficult to tell if we lifted restrictions too soon.

Florida was one of the first, announcing their Phase 1 reopening in early May. Other states watched to see what would happen, but now it appears Florida residents are dealing with the consequences with positive cases setting record highs day after day. The argument that we are testing more has been thrown around as an explanation for the high numbers, but let’s look at the percentages.

Clickorlando.com has a regularly updated page showing the percentages of positive cases each day in the state of Florida.

7/2, Thursday – 14.59%
7/1, Wednesday – 18.54%
6/30, Tuesday – 18.83%
6/29, Monday – 17.04%
6/26, Friday – 18.53%
6/25, Thursday – 9.55%
6/24, Wednesday – 19.97%
6/23, Tuesday – 14.10%
6/22, Monday – 16.07%
6/21, Sunday – 9.18%
6/20, Saturday – 14.26%
6/19, Friday – 17.33%
6/18, Thursday – 12.55%
6/17, Wednesday – 10.25%
6/16, Tuesday – 9.24%
https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2020/06/18/update-track-floridas-rate-of-positive-covid-19-tests/

If we compare this to where we were back in late March through early May, it’s a great way to understand how things have progressed. You can see on the “Percent Positive For Lab Testing” graph at the link below, that the blue line representing Florida stays between 8% and 5% before the start of the Phase 1 reopening, and trends down for the few days after represented on the graph.
https://www.firstcoastnews.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/curve-in-context-heres-what-the-percent-of-positive-covid-19-cases-look-like-in-florida-georgia-as-of-may-19/77-64239cbf-1629-4874-a72e-6b190f216cd0

From this information, we know that Florida has had a huge spike in their percent of positive cases, even worse than it was prior to Phase 1 reopening. We know the incubation period for COVID-19 is 2 to 14 days after exposure, and that some people are silent carriers. This delay in symptoms allows ample time for the virus to be spread when those without symptoms are out and about and is the reason it took a few months to see panic-inducing statistics. On 6/26 Florida announced they are suspending alcohol sales at bars immediately, following the Texas governor’s announcement that all bars in the state are to be shut down and restaurant dining to be restricted.

What are your thoughts on these numbers and statistics? Do you think Florida and others will eventually have to announce full Stay at Home orders again? Where do we go from here?


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a couple interesting article on more things closing in the Florida area due to spikes. Did we open too soon?

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The statistics are eye popping and quite honestly alarming. I think it’s only a matter of time before we see more and more states start closing down, especially those with looser restrictions initially. It’s really unfortunate for small businesses/restaurants that were just starting to reopen their doors again.

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At the start of this we heard arguments comparing Coronavirus to the flu, but I think the key piece to note here is that doctors and scientists understand the flu. That is controlled with vaccines, and although people die annually, there is an understanding about the virus and it’s strains. COVID-19 was new, is not under control, we do not have a vaccine and had no knowledge of the spread or progression of the virus when it hit.

I know people want to resume to normal life, I do too! I understand the economic hit, the financial losses when businesses close, and the livelihood that many of these businesses that are deemed non-essential bring to their employers. However, I also understand the deaths, the positive cases, the lack of knowledge. I’ve had friends lose their jobs, and I’ve also had family and friends test positive with the virus.

States tried to lift restrictions, but I think a large problem is the number of people who failed to take this seriously. You see arguments circulate about masks limiting freedoms, or being pointless. A push for “reopening” of each state to resume to normal life. Those who don’t agree with vaccinations, doctors, scientists, claiming this was all a scam. Even just walking into a Walmart or a Home Depot, where they have employees monitoring the door ensuring all people entering have masks on and then you see people walk inside and take them off.

My personal opinion is that I don’t think life can resume to normal until everyone respects the pandemic, the masks, the social distancing, and the healthcare workers and scientists working endlessly to help find a cure and manage those sent to the hospital. We worked together to flatten the curve, and I think we need to work together to eliminate this disease.

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I couldn’t agree with you more! Everyone has to do their part! We are all in this together. We should be helping in any way possible right now. If that means wearing masks, social distancing and staying at home as much as possible, we should be doing it. We all need to remember that this too shall pass. It’s temporary. Everything always changes. Nothing stays the same. We have that to look forward to.

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