New coronavirus cases have begun to increase in Florida new data shows. From the week ending Sunday, March 28, 2021, case rose 13% over the previous week.
Florida saw its worst spikes in new cases in Miami-Dade, Broward and Hillsborough counties. Weekly case counts rose in 46 counties from the previous week.
Florida saw its worst spikes in new cases in Miami-Dade, Broward and Hillsborough counties. Weekly case counts rose in 46 counties from the previous week.
Miami-Dade County has experienced one of the nation’s worst outbreaks, and continues to record high numbers. The county averaged more than 1,100 cases per day over the past week.
The more contagious B.1.1.7 British variant, is also rising exponentially in Florida, where it accounts for a greater proportion of total cases than in any other state, according to numbers collected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
At least some of the cases in Florida are the result of the state’s open invitation to tourists. Hordes of students on spring break have descended on the state since mid-February. Rowdy crowds on Miami Beach this month forced officials to impose an 8 p.m. curfew, although many people still flouted the rules.
Gov. Ron DeSantis has rejected stringent restrictions from the very start of the pandemic. Florida has never had a mask mandate, and in September DeSantis banned local governments from enforcing mandates of their own.
To make matters worse, Florida ranked 35th among states getting its citizens vaccinated. Health officials suggest that Florida has had one of the country’s most confusing and inefficient vaccination rollout campaigns.