Local COVID cases double

Posted on June 10, 2020

Taylor County’s positive coronavirus (COVID-19) cases nearly doubled over the course of five days, jumping from 26 cases on Thursday to 48 cases Tuesday, which increased the county’s positive test percentage from 2.4% to 4.2%.

The most significant increase in positive cases was reflected in the Florida Department of Health’s (DOH) Saturday update, with an unprecedented jump of 16 new cases in a single day.

“The weekend spike occurred in a situation of congregate living arrangements. Like a long-term care facility, we tend to see rapid spread in these instances due to the inability to social distance,” DOH-Taylor Public Information Officer Martine Young said.

 The most recent cases include:

• a 19-year-old male,

• two 20-year-old males,

• three 24-year-old males,

• three 26-year-old males,

• two 27-year-old males,

• a 28-year-old male,

• a 30-year-old female,

• a 32-year-old male,

• a 33-year-old male,

• a 35-year-old male,

• a 36-year-old male,

• a 43-year-old female,

• a 46-year-old male,

•a 64-year-old female,

• a 78-year-old male and

• an 83-year-old male.

Taylor County confirmed its first Hispanic case last Thursday, however 13 of the 22 new positive cases reported in the past five days identified as Hispanic.

The latest round of positive cases also mark Taylor County’s first African American cases. Of the 48 total local cases, three identified as African American and 14 identified as Hispanic.

One of the 48 local confirmed coronavirus cases is not a Florida resident.

“Current data does suggest a disproportionate burden of illness and death among racial and ethnic minority groups; however, infection rate data is still emerging,” Young said.

“Ethnic and racial minority groups often experience economic and social conditions, such as living conditions, work circumstances, underlying health conditions and lower access to care than whites. These factors can cause these health differences,” Young continued.

Those who test positive are entered into a verbal, voluntary agreement to self-quarantine or isolate.

“If that is not met, we enter into a written, voluntary agreement,” Young said. “After that, if quarantine/isolation is still not being appropriately met, we can issue the mandatory (non-voluntary) order. The order is enforceable by law enforcement.”

The Florida Department of Health can issue a mandatory quarantine/isolation order under the authority of section 381.00315, Florida Statutes, and Chapter 64D-3, Florida Administrative Code.

If you suspect a confirmed positive COVID-19 case is failing to self-quarantine, contact DOH-Taylor at (850) 584-5087.

As of press time on Thursday, 1,146 people had been tested in Taylor County, and 48 had tested positive, yielding a 4.2% positive rate.

“At this point, we can definitely say that we are seeing community spread,” Young said Tuesday.

“We encourage the community to continue practicing prevention actions such as staying home if you are sick, keeping away from people who are sick, disinfecting high-touch surface areas, practicing social distancing, utilizing a mask when in public and practicing proper hand hygiene,” Young said.

The local Department of Health (DOH) will continue to offer free coronavirus (COVID-19) testing to Taylor County residents each day this week at a drive-thru site set up at the local DOH-Taylor office.

From 9 a.m. to 10 a.m., Taylor County residents can be tested for COVID-19 at 1215 N. Peacock Avenue in Perry until Friday, June 12.

No symptoms or a doctor’s referral are necessary to be tested, but registration is required as there are a limited number of tests available for each day.

For more information or to register, call DOH-Taylor at (850) 584-5087.

During the month of the May, DOH-Taylor’s drive-thru testing sites tested 405 people for the coronavirus.

Subscribe to our e-Edition and read the rest of the story. Already a subscriber? Click here to sign in.