Medical professionals are urging Florida residents to get vaccinated as the state is leading the U.S in a surge of COVID-19 cases. The current weekly hospitalization rates can be compared to the earlier peak stages of the pandemic. Additionally, with the highly infectious manner of the delta variant, it is unclear where numbers are heading.
For the most part, admitted patients are unvaccinated and are reportedly younger than ever before. For example, 70 percent of patients range in ages between 40 to 69; before the surge, most patients were above the age of 60. Chief Medical Officer Dr. Timothy Groover of Baptist Health in Jacksonville said COVID-19 patients are “younger, sicker, and getting sicker quicker.” In conclusion, there has been a shift to a younger demographic primarily affected by the virus.
Preventive measures have been put back in place in Central Florida as cases and hospitalizations rise. These actions mean a limitation on elective surgeries for the time being and the number of visitors a patient can have. Currently, less than half of the state’s residents are reportedly fully vaccinated at only 41 percent.
Hospitals in the region worry about staff shortages as this crisis continues, and the unvaccinated staff is continuously exposed. As the majority of people found in the hospital are unvaccinated, health care leaders of Florida urge residents to rethink their decision for themselves and their community.
With offices in Florida, HIA encourages our community to stay safe by washing your hands and complying with current and upcoming official health measures. Together we can combat this virus, and we thank all frontline workers who are at the forefront of keeping our residents healthy.
