Florida has ‘all the markings to be next COVID epicenter’ as multiple hospitals run out of ICU beds
FLORIDA has “all the markings to be next COVID epicenter,” a new model says, as multiple hospitals run out of ICU beds.
The model came as Florida recorded a record 3,207 new coronavirus cases on Thursday – the biggest single-day increase the state has seen, data from the Department of Health shows.
A model from the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia on Wednesday said that Florida “has all the makings of the next large epicenter,” as was first reported by CNN.
The model continued: “the risk there is the worst it has ever been in our projections.”
“Miami and Florida’s southeastern counties now join the Tampa/Fort Myers area and Orlando for a fairly widespread transmission event that we forecast will continue throughout the state,” the model added.
As of Thursday, Florida has confirmed a total of 83,854 cases, with 3,061 deaths, data from the Department of Health shows.
In addition to rising cases, some counties are running out of hospital beds, WPTV reported.
Several hospitals – including Palm Beach County hospitals, Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center, Palms West Hospital, and Wellington Regional Medical Center – have no available adult ICU hospital beds, data from Florida’s Agency for Health Care Administration shows.
Some counties as a whole are running low on space, according to AHCA.
Palm Beach County has filled around 82 percent of adult ICU Beds, while St. Lucie County has filled around 91 percent.
Okeechobee County, meanwhile has around 88 percent of ICU beds occupied, WPTV reported.
Martin County has around 37 percent of beds full, while Indian River County has 47 percent full, data shows.
Thursday was the first day since the pandemic began that the state confirmed more than 3,000 new cases, the Sun-Sentinel reported.
In five out of the last six days, at least 2,000 new cases have been reported per day.
Just two months ago, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis declared the state had “flattened the curve.”
DeSantis said on Tuesday the recent rise in cases was anticipated.
He said the increase was due to more testing, rather than a spike, the Sun-Sentinel reported.
Florida’s record increase comes as COVID-19 cases across the South have surged – spiking fears that there may be a new nationwide lockdown.
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As of Tuesday, at least 21 states had seen an increase in cases, The New York Times reported.
On Thursday, coronavirus cases in the US had climbed past 2.17million, according to Johns Hopkins University.
At least 117,972 deaths have been confirmed in America.