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 [email protected].)
- 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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” It’s not a mandate, but Ladra has a feeling that is coming again.”
A friend works at a school and they began mask mandate and if you do not want to wear one you need a test daily before school which is impossible .
A few members of my family had it already ( omicron ) as of last week and as of now it was more or less a cold and it lasted few days if that , all are vaccinated with boosters .
I wear a mask when in stores , etc they all stopped so maybe this is why but it could also have been Christmas but I was with them and so far no problem.
I work 4 days a week , 10 hour shifts night to am , I get 10 hours sleep EVERY day , in fact about to do so right now , lol.
I am not a Doctor but I have always felt sleep has been great for me as far as never get sick , not even slight cold but nevertheless I am vaccinated with booster .
Mike Pryslak,
Hang in there , plenty of things around the corner coming to combat this but as Marcus Welby pointed out the new pill looks promising .
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” Let’s not panic omicron has been in South Africa for some time and thought it spreads easy their hospitalizations are NOT increasing.”
Exactly .
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” Remember when the Republican Gov Ron DeSantis was caught on TV installing his face mask sideways? That was fun.”
What I found funny was before the vaccines you would see guys without masks and their GF / wife with it on as if when they get home and she takes it off the guy can’t give her the virus.
My cousin got it twice when this started 6 months apart , he would go to Key West on weekends with his fiancee ( now his wife ) and not wear the mask yet she wore it .
She got it once .
This is why that shut down was absurd as people were simply going out of Miami .
Everyone in my family regardless of age has had even the booster and I strongly believe that the mask protects to the point that I live by myself ( every GF I have had has broken up with me while screaming ” You are impossible , I wish you were dead ” ) and though live by myself I wear the mask at home .
Lol I’m kidding about the mask at home but I believe in wearing it when in stores , etc .
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I’m almost at the point of tears. I’m 63 and I bubble with two others in their 80s, one with serious health issues. I remember well the day I was last indoors in a public setting: it was March 12, 2020, to hear you, Ladra, speak at a Kendall Homeowners Association meeting. Since then I have been using grocery delivery services (my heroes) and avoiding almost all contact with family, friends and the public. I say almost, because it wasn’t possible to avoid everything. I remember taking of of my co-bubblers to the Baptist Hospital emergency room one day — perhaps the scariest thing we did during the height of a raging surge in cases (the hospital staff was wonderful in that they kept us isolated the whole time, and thankfully everything was ok and we did not catch the virus). However, almost every one of my friends and family members have caught the virus–only a few with serious symptoms. Some still can’t taste or smell. However, I personally know of six COVID deaths among the families of friends.
Now as the holiday season is upon us and we had hoped for more contact, just in the past few days we have become fearful again. It’s odd to see how fear propagates–I know young adults who were children during Hurricane Andrew who now cower during severe thunderstorms. I suppose that’s what we now label PTSD.
I’m truly mad at those who stubbornly refuse to get vaccinated. It’s beyond shameful that we allowed it to become political, but that’s irrelevant now because it seems impossible to convince anti-vaxers of the need to vaccinate. The virus wafts in the air among us and the elderly with the biggest risks must stay isolated even longer. Good luck to us all as I tell my self: breathe, let the anger go, let it go, let it go.
Finally, thank you for all you do, Elaine. I appreciate truth, especially at a time when it seems to rare.
Remember when the Republican Gov Ron DeSantis was caught on TV installing his face mask sideways? That was fun.
Let’s not panic omicron has been in South Africa for some time and thought it spreads easy their hospitalizations are NOT increasing.
The Vaccine is not effective against omicron though Pfizer CEO says a 4th shot will help (I think he used to sell used cars in Hialeah).
The pill is supposed to be effective against all variants but it’s also a EUA (Emergency Use Authorization) long term side effects are unknown. Still 1 If you refuse to vax 2 Have a co-morbidity 3 Have not had a prior confirmed Covid infection. Seriously consider taking the pill.
Then theirs always daily saline solution nose rinse and hydrogen peroxide oral rinse daily, will NOT prevent infection but may lessen viral loads and symptoms Vaxed or Not. This goes for COVID, Flus and regular run of the mill colds.
” Hospitalizations were also up 5%, with 169 new admissions in the week ending Monday.”
As you know these statistics include visitors from other countries who arrive here already ill.
Miami will probably always be one of the top places for spreading of viruses , etc because like any big city there are a lot of people but more so then that we are an extension of Latin America be it Caribbean , South and Central America .
Countless go back and forth daily from Latin America so every and any virus , disease , etc WILL arrive here .
Due to the above I thought the 3 month Miami shut down was fruitless and insulting to say the least but guess most disagreed with me considering Republican Gimenez was rewarded by being elected to Congress .