BY: STAFF REPORT | BocaNewsNow.com
BOCA RATON, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) (Copyright © 2021 MetroDesk Media, LLC) — The summer surge of the Delta variant is over in Florida, but COVID is still a serious threat — according to the Florida Hospital Association.
The FHA, which often provided real-time hospital statistics that Florida health officials and Governor Ron DeSantis did not want public, now says hospital numbers are finally below last year’s levels.
This is the official advisory issued by the FHA Friday morning:
The Florida Hospital Association today reported that 2021 hospitalizations due to COVID-19 dropped below hospitalization levels in 2020. According to data from the federal Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), today’s hospitalization numbers stand at 2,251. In 2020, COVID-19 hospitalizations totaled 2,327 on today’s date. The state reached its peak of 17,121 on August 23, 2021.
“While COVID-19 remains a concern, the summer Delta surge in Florida is over,” said Mary C. Mayhew, President and CEO, Florida Hospital Association. “Our state’s recovery would not have been possible without the tremendous work of our doctors, nurses, and hospital staff who worked around the clock. We would also like to recognize Governor Ron DeSantis for making monoclonal antibody treatments available to reduce the severity of the illness, keeping thousands of additional COVID-19 patients out of the hospital, and ultimately saving lives. While the worst of the delta surge is behind us, getting vaccinated remains the best protection against serious illness, possible hospitalization, and death from COVID-19.”
Meantime, the CDC reports that Florida has now logged 58,608 deaths from COVID-19. The Palm Beach County School District reports 6,525 COVID-19 cases logged since the school year began in August.
