Coronavirus Report: March 21, 2022

By Marsha Mullings, MPH

USA

Cases: 79.7 million

Deaths: 975,000

Florida

Cases:  5.8 million

Deaths: 72,704

Update

Coronavirus activity continues to wane across the US. The daily average number of new cases is 30,000; down 33% over the last 2 weeks.

COVID-19 deaths are still high. The average number of deaths is 1,200 daily across the US.

New coronavirus cases are still falling in Florida. The state has an average of 1,200 new cases daily, down 37% over the previous two weeks.

Cases of the Omicron subvariant, BA.2 (Stealth variant), have been reported in South Florida. The subvariant is reportedly more transmissible that the Omicron variant. Scientists report that this subvariant does not result in more severe disease.

New Mask Guidance

The CDC has issued new guidelines for mask usage in the prevention of COVID-19. The recommendations are based on the level of COVID-19 in the community.

Low: Wear a mask based on your personal preference, informed by your personal level of risk.

Medium: If you are immunocompromised or at high risk for severe illness – talk to your healthcare provider about additional precautions, such as wearing masks or respirators indoors in public.

If you live with or have social contact with someone at high risk for severe illness – consider testing yourself for infection before you get together and wearing a mask when indoors with them.

High: Wear a well-fitting mask indoors in public, regardless of vaccination status or individual risk (including in K-12 schools and other community settings).

If you are immunocompromised or at high risk for severe illness – wear a mask or respirator that provides you with greater protection.

South Florida (Broward, Miami-Dade, Monroe, and Palm Beach Counties) is at a medium level of community spread. Mask usage should be considered within the context of this level of COVID-19 in the community.

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/covid-by-county.html

For more information on coronavirus (COVID-19) prevention, visit www.FloridaHealth.org; nyt.com; www.coronavirus.jhu.edu;  www.cdc.gov;