2 new COVID-related deaths reported

Posted on November 13, 2020

Two more local residents who previously tested positive for COVID-19 have died, bringing Taylor County’s total coronavirus-related deaths to 20.

The area’s two most recent deaths were that of a 90-year-old male who tested positive on Oct. 19 and an 81-year-old female who tested positive on Oct. 31.

Two new hospitalizations, as well as 46 new cases, were added to statistics maintained by the Florida Department of Health this week, bringing Taylor County’s total hospitalizations to 62 and 1,547 positive cases.

Recently, Taylor County’s trend in cases has fluctuated between a 12% and 8% infection rate, averaging around 9.9% for the past five weeks. According to the Department of Health (DOH), the target range is below 10%.

At 858,012 total cases, Florida is reporting a 7.16% infection rate – an increase from 4.5% the first week of October.

Nationally, the U.S. is reportedly experiencing an “unprecedented” number of new COVID-19 infections, according to a New York Times database, with more than 10.4 million positives.

On Nov. 9, Pfizer Inc. and BioTech announced a potential coronavirus vaccine yielding a 90% success rate.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert, expressed confidence that the Pfizer vaccine will receive emergency approval later this month.

Soon after, first responders and Americans most at risk of contracting the virus would be the first to receive it.

Fauci has stated he believes the vaccine will likely be available to anyone who wants it by April 2021.

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