Don’t put those masks away just yet.
New variants and increased activity bourne from the confidence of mass vaccinations and lower infection rates have led to another surge in COVID cases nationwide. And Miami-Dade, where there are six confirmed cases of the omicron variant so far, is no exception.
The seven-day positivity rate that was at 1% a month ago has grown to 5% this week, with 21 deaths out of 2,657 cases in the week ending Tuesday, according to the Miami-Dade COVID dashboard. Hospitalizations were also up 5%, with 169 new admissions in the week ending Monday.
On Thursday, Jackson Memorial Hospital reported 58 COVID patients, the highest number in several weeks.
And the county found the omicron variant in our poop. Our poop! Ladra didn’t even know that the county regularly analyzes wastewater from our sewage system now. But they do, because people with COVID-19 can shed the virus via their stool, even if they are asymptomatic and don’t know they are positive. This gives the Miami-Dade Water and Sewer department a flow chart, ha ha, of how prevalent the virus is in what parts of the community.
On Tuesday, the county confirmed it had detected omicron in wastewater from the plant in the central part of the county. It’s only a matter of time, scientists say, before it is detected in the north and south plants.
In fact, Ladra predicts it’s too late. We’re already soaking in omicron.
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The numbers are concerning enough that Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava announced new measures Thursday to combat the surge:
- Hospitals will resume daily reporting
- Mobile vaccination trucks will be dispatched to underserved communities
- Vaccination outreach for homebound residents (Anyone interested can call 888-201-5490 or email vaccinations@ilshealth.com.)
- Expanded monoclonal treatment
- Sequencing for variants at county sites.
“My team is also laying the groundwork to offer the Pfizer antiviral pill at County sites as soon as it’s approved and available,” the mayor said on Twitter. “This is an important new tool in our toolkit — the most recent trial shows the pill is nearly 90% effective in preventing hospitalization and death.
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“All together, this series of measures will help us tackle the latest increase in cases head-on and ensure Miami-Dade continues to lead the way in preparation and protection,” La Alcaldesa finished, urging residents to mask up, get tested and get fully vaccinated.
Lines at the testing sites are long again, looking a lot like the lines from last year, as this drone video from NBC6 shows. La Alcaldesa stood before a podium at Tropical Park’s testing operation to urge county residents to take holiday gatherings outdoors, where the risk of infection is somewhat smaller, and to wear masks again.
It’s not a mandate, but Ladra has a feeling that is coming again.
For weeks, healthcare workers and hospital staffers have been texting their family members about the increasing number of cases and urging them to get the vaccine booster. Hospitals are going back to their no visitors rule.
There are other circumstantial telltale signs that things are heading in the wrong direction.
After not sending any COVID alert notices since Nov. 15, the 11th Judicial Circuit Court of Florida sent out three advisory self-monitoring notices just this week.
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The first was for one person who had been at the Richard E. Gerstein Justice Building, the main courthouse at 1351 NW 12th St. — in courtroom 2-5 on Dec. 2, 6 and 7 — had tested positive, the spokeswoman said Monday. By Wednesday, two more people had tested positive. The first individual was in courtroom 2-7 on Dec. 6, 7, 8 and 14. The second person was in three different courtrooms: Courtroom 4-9 on Dec. 6, Courtroom 6-5 on Dec. 9 and Courtroom 6, 9 and 10 on Dec. 10.
And that had multiplied to eight more people who worked at three different facilities and reportedly have tested positive as of Thursday, including one individual who was in seven different courtrooms at the civic center courthouse over the last ten days or so ending on Wednesday. Another person was in courtroom 6-4 over the course of five days and another was in three courtrooms as well as rooms 405 and 602 from Dec. 6 to Wednesday. More details can be found here.
At the historic Dade County Courthouse, 73 West Flagler St., someone who was in Courtroom 10-1 Monday through Wednesday and room 1017 this week as well as all of last week. At the North Dade Justice Center on Biscayne Boulevard, three rooms and the clerk’s lounge on the first floor were contaminated at some point. And at the South Dade Justice Center, 10700 W 211 St., room 2501 and the clerk’s office had someone positive in them on Wednesday.
“Persons identified as having been in close proximity to the confirmed individuals are being notified and will be asked to take all necessary precautions,” wrote spokeswoman Eunice Sigler in Thursday’s notice.
That’s gotta be a lot of persons.
The numbers are likely going to go up again next week.
COVID-19 surges in Miami-Dade as masks, testing, positive cases increase added by Ladra on
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