‘Vast majority’ are those who are unvaccinated.
Polk County’s new COVID cases have increased fivefold in July, skyrocketing to levels not seen since the holiday spike.
Polk reported 2,514 new infections in the past week between July 16 and Thursday, according to the Florida Department of Health’s Friday report, the highest levels since early January. It marks a nearly fivefold increase within the county since the 506 cases reported the week ending July 2.
With Polk County’s number of COVID-19 cases spiking and hospitalizations increasing, there’s been a deafening silence from local officials. Where government social media feeds on Facebook and Twitter once announced the number of new daily cases during the pandemic, there’s been silence. Polk government officials last posted case numbers on Twitter in January. Lakeland city staff posted a Facebook update Friday, its first mention of the virus since late April.
“Have local officials been quiet? We have, not on purpose,” said Rick Wilson, chairman of the Polk County Commission. “We are like 99% of people trying to live normally again.” This summer has seen the return of local activities from municipal-hosted Fourth of July Celebrations to farmers’ markets, outdoor concerts, and food truck rallies. Events like these have drawn large crowds, Wilson said.
“People are enjoying themselves. It’s almost like old times,” he said. “Is that a problem? Well, I don’t know.”
Fewer people among the crowds continue to wear face masks. Wilson said it serves as a visual reminder of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Up until Wednesday, Wilson said county commissioners hadn’t received any contact from local health care officials voicing concern about Polk’s rising number of COVID cases, which have increased fivefold in July. More than 2,500 new infections were reported in the past week, a spike not seen since January.
The sudden spike in new COVID infections is raising alarms among local health care officials.
“We were all pretty comfortable thinking we’re under control for a while, but the numbers have gone up dramatically,” said Dr. Joy Jackson, director of Florida Department of Health in Polk County. “We have to get people understanding we’re back in it,” Jackson said she blames a multitude of factors for the sudden uptick – from the Fourth of July holiday gatherings, schools being out, masks off, the highly contagious delta variant, and the number of people still unvaccinated.
Polk’s weekly positive rate was 18.6 %, according to the state report, up from 13.3% a week prior. It’s the sixth consecutive week the level has increased from when it was hovering near 4%.
“It’s a chief indicator there’s a high level of transmission within the county,” Jackson said.
95% of hospitalized COVID patients are unvaccinated.
Jackson said she estimates more than 95% of currently hospitalized COVID patients are unvaccinated or only partially vaccinated. Only 3% of new infections are people who have been vaccinated or “breakthrough” cases.
The health department director said any of the three vaccines approved for emergency use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration — Moderna, Pfizer, or the single-dose Johnson & Johnson — are widely available.
“If anyone has been on the fence, now is the time to get the vaccine,” Jackson said.