By Marsha Mullings, MPH
USA
26 million cases, 444,000 deaths
Florida
1.7 million cases, 72,454 total hospitalizations, 26,685 deaths
Broward
171,581 cases, 8,211 total hospitalizations, 2,115 deaths
Vaccine Update
The following sites are offering vaccinations for persons 65+, with confirmed appointments:
- Coral Square Mall
(walk up)
- Central Broward Regional Park (drive through)
- Tradewinds Park
(drive through)
- Inter Miami CF Stadium, formerly Lockhart (walk up)
- Snyder Park
(drive through)
- Vista View Park
(drive through)
- Markham County Park (drive through)
- John Mullin Park
(drive through), for Lauderhill residents only
Coronavirus Variants in the US
Three coronavirus variants are spreading across the US:
- B.1.1.7 (the UK variant), first reported by the United Kingdom in December.
- B.1.351 (the South African variant), a variant first reported in South Africa.
- P.1 (the Brazilian variant), a variant first reported in Brazil.
- 467 cases of the UK variant are circulating across 32 states.
- 3 cases of the South African variant have been reported – 2 in North Carolina, 1 in Maryland.
- 1 case of the Brazilian variant – in Minnesota – has been reported in the US.
- Florida has 147 variant cases (all UK variant); the highest in the country.
- California has the country’s second highest number of cases – 113 of the UK variant.
- The CDC has predicted that the UK variant will be the dominant coronavirus strain in the US by March.
- All three variants are more transmissible than the original coronavirus and may result in higher numbers of total infections and illnesses.
- Scientists are closely monitoring all circulating coronavirus variants.
- We await additional updates on the variant strains and their influence on vaccine efficacy.
To decrease the potential spread of resistant coronavirus variants and the burden of disease in the community, disease mitigation is crucial. Social distancing, wearing a mask when out in public, handwashing, and avoiding crowded indoor locations are critical.
For more information on coronavirus (COVID-19) prevention, visit www.FloridaHealth.org;