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Florida COVID weekly update: State sees decrease in new cases, increase in deaths

What is the COVID-19 situation like in Florida?

The average number of cases decreased and deaths increased in the latest seven-day period in the state.

As of Thursday, Feb. 2, the state has added an average of 3,009 cases and 63 deaths per day in the past seven days, according to Miami Herald calculations of data published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That’s down from an average of 3,138 cases and up from 46 deaths per day in the previous seven-day period.

READ MORE HERE: What’s the COVID situation in Miami and why are Florida hospitals full of patients?

As of Friday, Feb. 3, more than 14,891,600 people were fully vaccinated in Florida. The state has logged at least 7,465,016 cases and 85,370 deaths since the pandemic began in March 2020.

The number of cases is likely an undercount because the data doesn’t include positive results from at-home COVID testing. The state tracks only resident cases and deaths, excluding nonresident information.

Here’s a breakdown of what to know this week:

Tracking COVID variants

The CDC is tracking 18 omicron subvariants, 12 of which are spreading throughout the United States and make up all new cases.

From Jan. 29 to Feb. 4, the XBB.1.5 strain was the most dominant strain in the United States, accounting for 66.4% of cases. The BQ.1.1 variant is now the second-most dominant strain, accounting for 19.9% of cases, according to CDC data.

In the Southeast region, which includes Florida, XBB.1.5 made up 60.5% of cases and was the most dominant strain, while BQ.1.1 was the second-most dominant, accounting for 24.3% of the cases.

COVID spread in South Florida

Miami-Dade, Broward, Monroe and Palm Beach counties remained at a medium risk level.

At this level, the CDC recommends that those at high risk of severe illness talk with their doctors about whether to wear a mask or take other precautions.

Manatee County was at a low risk level in the last week. The CDC no longer recommends wearing masks at this level.

COVID hospitalization in Florida

COVID hospitalizations have decreased in the state.

Of the 45,822 inpatient beds being used in Florida, 2,330, or about 5%, of the beds are being used for COVID-19, according to data from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, as of Friday. Of the 5,212 ICU beds in use, 299, about 6%, are being used for COVID-19.

South Florida and Manatee County COVID-19 Cases

From Jan. 26 to Feb. 2, Florida recorded 21,060 new cases, according to Miami Herald calculations of the CDC’s Community Profile Report published Friday.

Here’s a breakdown of the new COVID cases in South Florida and Manatee County, according to the report.

Miami-Dade reported 4,034 new resident cases in the week ending Jan. 26, reaching a cumulative total of 1,529,032 since March 2020, when the pandemic began. New cases were 0.86% fewer than those added in the previous week.

Broward reported 1,831 new resident cases, reaching a cumulative total of 764,865. New cases were 5.72% fewer than those added in the previous week.

Palm Beach reported 1,646 new resident cases, reaching a cumulative total of 474,057. New cases were 14.78% more than those added in the previous week.

Monroe reported 64 new resident cases, reaching a cumulative total of 22,633. New cases were 39.13% more than those added in the previous week.

Manatee reported 314 new resident cases, reaching a cumulative total of 121,824. New cases were 4.32% more than those added in the previous week.

South Florida and Manatee County COVID deaths

Florida has added 443 deaths in the past week, according to Miami Herald calculations of the CDC’s Community Profile Report.

It is unclear when these newly reported deaths occurred. The Community Profile Report updates Florida’s county death tolls and rates about once every seven days.

Here’s where death rates and tolls stand in South Florida and Manatee County, according to the CDC:

Miami-Dade’s death toll is 12,180, an increase of 54 deaths from last Friday’s report. That’s a rate of 448 cumulative deaths per 100,000 people since the beginning of the pandemic.

Broward’s death toll is 6,682, an increase of 42. That’s a rate of 342 cumulative deaths per 100,000 people.

Palm Beach’s death toll is 5,938, an increase of 34. That’s a rate of 397 cumulative deaths per 100,000 people.

Monroe’s death toll is 135, no new increases. The county would be at a death rate of 182 deaths per 100,000 people if its population were that large.

Manatee’s death toll is 1,711, an increase of nine. Manatee has a rate of 424 cumulative deaths per 100,000 people.

Florida COVID-19 vaccinations

About 14,891,661 eligible Floridians — 69.3% of the state’s population — have completed the two-dose series of either the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccines or have completed Johnson & Johnson’s single-dose vaccine, according to the CDC.

Here’s how many people have received the updated Pfizer-BioNTech booster in South Florida and Manatee County since Oct. 12, according to the CDC:

In Miami-Dade, about 209,001 people, or 8.2% of the fully vaccinated population, have received the booster.

In Broward, about 199,716 people have received the booster, or 10.8% of the fully vaccinated population.

In Palm Beach, about 189,380 people have received the booster, or 13.3% of the fully vaccinated population.

In Monroe, about 9,781 people have received the booster, or 13.8% of the fully vaccinated population.

In Manatee, about 52,250 people have received the booster, or 13.6% of the fully vaccinated population.