COVID-19 DATA for Dec. 29, 2020, as compared to Dec. 6, 2020
(was 67,365,934 cases and 1,541,281 deaths) and now is 81,987,883 cases and 1,787,743 deaths; 22,164,575 currently infected, 22,058,916 in mild condition, 57,035,565 who have recovered or were discharged, and 59,823,308 closed cases.
UNITED STATED:
(was 14,462,527 cases and 280,135 deaths) and now is 19,055,869 total cases and 332,246 deaths.
STATE OF FLORIDA:
(was 1,058,074 cases and 19,423 deaths) and now is 1,280,177 cases and 21,613 deaths.
CITRUS COUNTY, FLORIDA:
(was 5,143 cases and 181 deaths) and now is 6,467 cases and 260 deaths.
LEVY COUNTY, FLORIDA:
(was 1,495 cases and 14 deaths) and now is 1,798 cases and 19 deaths.
MARION COUNTY, FLORIDA:
(was 13,900 cases and 408? deaths) and now is 17,125 cases and 456 deaths.
SAFETY RECOMMENDATIONS:
Wash your hands often with soap and water – 20 seconds or longer or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
Practice social distancing. If you are around other people, keep 6 feet between you when possible. Avoid hugs, handshakes, large gatherings and close quarters.
Wear a face mask when around others or in public. To test the effectiveness of your mask: If you can blow out a candle while wearing your mask, you should find a more effective mask, one with additional layers of fabric, or add a filter if your mask is designed to allow for the addition of a filter.
People with COVID-19 have reported a wide range of symptoms reported, ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness. Symptoms may appear 2 to 14 days after exposure to the virus.
According to the Florida Department of Health (FDOH) in regard to COVID-19, the elderly and those with underlying medical problems like high blood pressure, heart problems and diabetes are more likely to develop serious illness.
Watch for symptoms of COVID-19:
•Fever or chills
•Cough
•Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
•Fatigue
•Muscle or body aches
•Headache
•New loss of taste or smell
•Sore throat
•Congestion or runny nose
•Nausea or vomiting
•Diarrhea
TEST FOR COVID-19
Get tested for Covid-19 if you are concerned about your status. To find a testing site in Florida for Covid-19 near you, click here: https://floridahealthcovid19.gov/testing-sites/
If you have concerns regarding COVID-19, please contact your medical doctor and/or the Florida Department of Health in your county: Citrus 352-527-0068; Levy 352-486-5300; Marion 352-629-0137
COVID-19 data can be obtained at the following websites:
www.floridahealthcovid19.gov/
www.CDC.gov/coronavirus
www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/
MASK WARNING for MRIs:
On Dec. 7, 2020, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned that you should not wear certain masks during magnetic resonance imagaing scans ("MRIs"). Masks that cannot be safely worn during an MRI include masks that have bendable nose clips or wires, staples on the headband, nanoparticles (ultrafine particles), or antimicrobial coatings that may contain metal, such as silver or copper. Metals on the mask can heat up during an MRI and cause burns. Check with your radiology department to learn which masks are safe to wear during an MRI.
FLORIDA COVID-19 VACCINE:
On Dec. 23, 2020, Governor Ron DeSantis signed Executive Order 20-315 which outlines that providers can only administer the COVID-19 vaccine to the following groups:
•Long-term care facility residents and staff.
•Persons 65 years of age and older.
•Health care personnel with direct patient contact.
•Persons deemed to be extremely vulnerable to COVID-19 by hospital providers.
Information regarding COVID-19 Vaccines in Florida: floridahealthcovid19.gov/covid-19-vaccines-in-florida/
On December 11, 2020, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for the Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine, so that the first COVID-19 vaccines are available to individuals 16 years of age and older.
Securing and distributing a COVID-19 vaccine is a top priority for the state of Florida. A COVID-19 vaccine will be a critical resource to preventing the further spread of the virus and allowing Floridians to return to the normal pace of life.
The state’s draft COVID-19 vaccination plan submitted to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is publicly available on the Florida Department of Health’s website here: http://ww11.doh.state.fl.us/comm/_partners/covid19_report_archive/vaccination-plan/vaccination_plan_latest.pdf
On Dec. 16, 2020, Florida was preparing to receive 367,000 doses of the Moderna vaccine during the following week, pending Emergency Use Authorization by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Doses of the Moderna vaccine were to be distributed to 173 hospital locations that did not receive doses in the first allocation of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. These hospital locations span 43 counties:
www.flgov.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Hospital-Locations-1.pdf
On Dec. 14, the CDC launched a smartphone based tool, V-safe, that uses text messaging and web surveys to provide personalized health check-ins after you receive a COVID-19 vaccination. Learn more about V-safe here:
www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/safety/vsafe.html