Florida COVID-19 Case Updates – 7/28

Jenny Fang, Writer - The Reporter|July 29, 2020

Bella Steiert

Information from Orlando Sentinel 

Data reported from the Agency for Healthcare Administration (AHCA)

With an increase in patients being hospitalized due to medical conditions, there is an increased desire for hospital beds, especially hospital beds in the intensive care unit (ICU.) The AHCA has been tracking the availability of all hospital beds in Florida. The data displayed on both the interactive map and the chart are updated every hour.

 

According to the AHCA, at 11:18 p.m on July 28:

  • 27 out of 306 hospitals have no capacity. (8.82% of hospitals have no capacity)
  • 279 out of 306 hospitals have hospital beds available. (91.17% of hospitals have available hospital beds)
  • 147 out of 306 hospitals do not have any beds in the ICU available. (48.04% of hospitals have no ICU beds available.)
  • 159 out of 306 hospitals have beds in the ICU available. (51.96% of hospitals have ICU beds available.)

 

*The data displayed does not specify how many beds are occupied by COVID-19 patients.

 

July 27 

10 a.m. 

Information from the Daytona Beach News-Journal, Lauren Johnson 

  • According to health officials from the University of Florida (UF) Health, after a private house party on July 10 in Gainesville, 17 anesthesiology residents and one administrative employee from UF’s anesthesiology department from UF Health tested positive for COVID-19. 
    • Among the seventeen anesthesiology residents, there were 14 junior residents and 2 senior residents. 
  • After this party, Timothy Morey, chairman of the anesthesiology department at UF’s College of Medicine notified UF College of Medicine to inform that the 18 individuals will be isolated for two weeks and are recovering. 
  • This scenario demonstrates that at a private social gathering, even medical professionals can contract COVID-19. 

 

July 28

Information from Walt Disney World Resort Orlando 

Walt Disney World Resort Orlando has made amendments to the reopening schedule for some on-site resorts by postponing the reopening date. 

  • Walt Disney Orlando’s Caribbean Beach Resort is still reopening on July 29.
  • Walt Disney Orlando’s Yacht Club is reopening on Aug. 24. 
  • Walt Disney Orlando’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa is scheduled to reopen on Sept. 21. 
  • Walt Disney Orlando’s Polynesian Village Resort is scheduled to reopen on Oct. 4. 
  • Walt Disney Orlando’s Coronado Springs is scheduled to reopen on Oct.14. 
  • Walt Disney Orlando’s Art of Animation Resort is scheduled to reopen on Nov. 1. 
  • The reopening dates for Walt Disney’s Beach Club and Walt Disney’s BoardWalk Inn have not been announced and remain closed. 

 

11:52 a.m.

Information from Daytona Beach News-Journal, Nikki Ross

Data reported from the Florida Department of Health (FDOH)

Total tests in Florida: 3,485,14

 

  • According to the FDOH, there are 4,842 tests with inconclusive results in Florida.

 

Total cases in Florida: 441,977 (There is an overall 12.7% positivity rate.)

Record: There were 15,300 new cases from July 11 to July 12.

  • Florida residents: 436,867
  • non-Florida residents: 5,110

Total hospitalizations in Florida: 24,917

Total deaths in Florida: 6,117

Record: There were 186 deaths from July 27 to July 28.

Of the total cases in Florida:

 

12:29 p.m.

Live Recording from NBC2 News Station

Gov. Ron DeSantis held a roundtable discussion on information regarding COVID-19 in Florida at AdventHealth Orlando.

  • Over the last couple of months, hospitals statewide have demonstrated improvement in the development and responses on COVID-19 patient recoveries.
  • There has been an increase in the recovery rate or survival rate for COVID-19 cases. 
  • A majority of COVID-19 cases are still asymptomatic.
  • The difference between how quickly COVID-19 patients are recovering now versus March is the availability of therapeutics for treating emergencies, especially Remdesivir.
    • At the start of COVID-19, hospitals were limited in the supply of therapeutics for effectively treating COVID-19 and now hospitals have the necessary supply of an effective therapeutic, Remdesevir.
  • Earlier today, about 20,000 vials of Remdesivir have been delivered to hospitals statewide.
  • Gov. DeSantis mentioned that there has been another daily record of deaths, however, also indicated that trends show that the number of COVID-19 cases is decreasing.
  • Gov. DeSantis acknowledged the importance of recovered patients donating blood with convalescent blood to effectively treat current COVID-19 patients.
  • Gov. DeSantis acknowledged that Florida hospitals are safe for hospitalization for COVID-19 and other underlying medical conditions.
  • There are currently 22 COVID-19 only long-term care facilities.
  • Statewide, the staff of long-term care facilities continue to be tested weekly.

Gov. DeSantis reiterated the importance of following guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), including avoiding close spaces and avoiding close contact, especially with the vulnerable with underlying medical conditions.