By Marsha Mullings, MPH
USA
50 million cases, 801,000 deaths
Florida
3.7 million cases, 62,026 deaths
Update
The daily average number of new cases in the US has risen to 120,000. Cases are rising steeply in mid-western and northeastern states where colder weather has driven people to spend more time indoors.
New coronavirus cases are also rising steadily in Florida. The daily average is now 1,500 new infections per day.
The Omicron variant has been detected in South Florida. The case was detected in a hospital in Miami-Dade County. It is extremely likely that the Omicron variant is circulating in Broward and Palm Beach counties.
Announcements
Omicron Variant Spreads in The United States
The Omicron variant has now spread to over 25 states in the US.
The variant has over 30 mutations and may be partially resistant to currently available vaccines. Scientists are working to assess the effectiveness of current vaccines against this new variant.
Omicron is rapidly spreading across the globe, prompting new travel restrictions by numerous countries. The US requires that all persons entering the US from a foreign country present a negative COVID-19 test within 24 hours of their travel date, regardless of their vaccination status.
Advisory
The emergence of new coronavirus variants highlights the seriousness of COVID-19 as a continued health crisis. Vigilance is critical to reducing the chance of acquiring an infection. Practice good COVID-19 control strategies:
Observe social distancing guidelines (6 feet or more of separation from others).
Practice good hand hygiene (wash hands frequently with soap and warm water or use hand sanitizers).
Wear a mask when out in public if you are unvaccinated.
For more information on coronavirus (COVID-19) prevention, visit www.FloridaHealth.org; nyt.com; www.coronavirus.jhu.edu; www.cdc.gov;
