The number of coronavirus cases in Florida has increased by 50 percent in the last week, according to officials, as the state, which already accounts for a sizable portion of the nation’s total cases, sees an increase in new infections.
The Florida Department of Health reported more than 110,000 new cases this week, up from more than 73,000 reported the previous week.
Case numbers have returned to the levels seen in January, prior to the vaccine’s widespread distribution.
According to Johns Hopkins University, slightly more than half of Florida’s population is fully vaccinated, though vaccination rates have recently increased.
According to state health department data, the number of vaccine doses administered increased by more than 15% in a week, from 288,870 to 334,064.
Federal health officials urged local governments this week to reintroduce indoor mask requirements, even for fully vaccinated people, in an effort to halt the spread of the contagious delta variant.
According to a local NBC affiliate, Florida ranks second in the nation in terms of new coronavirus cases and hospitalizations, trailing only Louisiana and Nevada.
The Sunshine State has accounted for roughly one-fifth of all new cases reported in the United States in recent months.
“COVID-19 vaccines are very effective, but no vaccine is perfect.
In some cases, fully vaccinated people will contract COVID-19 and may be contagious “the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced on Friday.
“As the number of people who are vaccinated grows, the number of breakthrough cases is expected to grow as well, even though the vaccines remain highly effective,” it added.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) has urged residents to get vaccinated, but he has also criticized the CDC’s masking guidance and indicated he will oppose efforts to require indoor face coverings.
On Friday, the governor announced that he had signed an executive order directing state officials to work to “protect parents’ freedom to choose whether their children wear masks” when school begins this fall.
“The federal government has no right to tell parents that their children must wear a mask all day, every day in order for them to attend school in person,” he said in a statement.
During a press conference, he added that his own family would not be wearing masks.
“I have three young children. My wife and I will not be doing the mask with the kids. We have never done so, and we will not do so in the future. I want to see my children happy.” I want them to have a good time,” he said.
