and last updated 2021-07-19 23:15:13-04
SARASOTA, Fla. â Sarasota Memorial Hospital (SMH) officials said nearly all COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths have been among people who are unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated.
About a month ago, the number of COVID-19 patients at SMH was in the single digits and no one was in the hospital s ICU. As of Monday morning, the hospital had 36 patients with the virus. Of those patients, seven are in the ICU. Once there is more mobility in a population, interact more, they go out especially indoors, they get into crowded environments and on top of that without masks, thatâs a recipe that the virus loves, said Dr. Manuel Gordillo, Sarasota Memorial Infectious Disease specialist.
Over the last few weeks, the number of patients with COVID-19 being treated at Lakeland Regional Health has steadily risen, and we are seeing a younger demographic in many cases, Hamilton said. We suspect the Delta variant with its ease in spreading is causing many of these infections.
Statewide, new cases nearly doubled week-to-week, jumping to 45,603 new infections this week. Nearly 20% of the nation s new coronavirus infections are happening in Florida, one of four states seeing a significant rise in cases, as The Hill reports.
Both Polk and the state saw upticks in their weekly positivity rates among those being tested for the virus. Florida s weekly positive rate increased from 7.8% to 11.5% this week, breaking above the 10% threshold often cited during the pandemic for wide community spread.
Local doctors say COVID hospitalizations include younger population
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and last updated 2021-07-16 19:08:57-04
TAMPA BAY, Fla â Local doctors said younger people are being admitted to the hospital for COVID-19.
Dr. Hal Escowitz, Chief Quality Officer and Chief Medical Informatics Officer with Lakeland Regional Health, said the hospital is seeing an increase in COVID-19 patients.
Hospital officials said 86 patients are hospitalized with COVID-19. Three people in the intensive care unit are under the age of 40. Now with most likely a combination of the Delta variant maybe some congregation during the 4th of July holiday weâre starting to see increases again, said Dr. Hal Escowitz.
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