Brevard County has lowest number of COVID deaths in months, CDC data shows

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Despite being considered a “moderate transmission community” by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention standards, Brevard County continues to experience some of the lowest COVID-19-related death rates in months.

Between November 20 and 27, there were two COVID-19-related deaths in Brevard County, according to data released by the CDC. The Space Coast has recorded a total of 1,705 COVID-19-related deaths since January 2020.

Although COVID-19-related deaths have declined significantly since this summer’s outbreak, Brevard County remains a community of moderate transmission.

A moderate transmission community is a community where there are between 10 and 50 cases per 100,000 people and the case positivity rate is between 5% and 8%, according to the CDC. To be a low transmission community, Brevard County would need to have a new positive case rate of less than 5% and have less than 10 cases per 100,000.

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According to data released by the Florida Department of Health on Friday, December 3, the Space Coast fell from 43 cases per 100,000 last week to 42.9 cases per 100,000 between November 26 and December 2.

Last week, Brevard County’s case rate per 100,000 increased to 5.9 cases per 100,000 after weeks of decline. However, this week the case rate metric started to drop again.

Brevard County’s positivity rate for new cases also declined from the previous week, from 2.9% to 2.7%, between November 26 and December 2.

The COVID-19 case positivity rate and cases per 100,000 are the two measures used to assess how well the virus is spreading in a community.

According to FDOH data, only 66% of eligible residents – those five years and older – on the Space Coast have been vaccinated as of December 2. The vaccination rate has increased by a percentage point since the previous week.

According to the FDOH, among the eligible population in Florida, the vaccination rates by age group in the state are:

• 5-11 years, 9% vaccinated
• 12-19 years old, 57% vaccinated.
• 20-29 years old, 58% vaccinated.
• 30-39 years old, 67% vaccinated.
• 40-49 years old, 75% vaccinated.
• 50-59 years old, 80% vaccinated.
• 60-64 years, 87% vaccinated.
• 65 years and over, 89% vaccinated.

About 13% of eligible Floridians received an additional dose of the vaccine.

Across Florida, there were 49.6 cases per 100,000 and a new case positivity rate of 2.5%.

Statewide, 153 Floridians died from COVID-19 between November 26 and December 2. Across Florida, there have been a total of 61,701 COVID-19-related deaths since the start of the pandemic.

Nationally, only 59.7% of the eligible population is fully immunized according to CDC data. Since the start of the pandemic, there have been a total of 48,767,329 COVID-19 cases and 783,215 COVID-19-related deaths.

Where to get monoclonal antibody treatment:

Brevard County provides free monoclonal antibody therapy at the following location:

• Kiwanis Island Park Gym, 951 Kiwanis Island Park Road, Merritt Island, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Where to get vaccinated:

The Florida Department of Health offers COVID-19 vaccines at three sites:

• Melbourne Clinic, 601 E. University Blvd., 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays. Children aged 5 to 11 can only be vaccinated from 1:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Fridays.
• Titusville Clinic, 611 N. Singleton Ave., 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays. Children aged 5 to 11 can only be vaccinated from 1:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Fridays.
• Clinique Viera, 2555 Judge Fran Jamieson Way, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays. 5-11 year olds can only be vaccinated from 8:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday to Friday.

COVID-19 vaccines are also available at pharmacies at various local CVS, Publix, Sam’s Club, Walgreens, Walmart and Winn-Dixie stores, as well as some emergency care centers and doctor’s offices.

Amira Sweilem is the Data Journalist at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Sweilem at 386-406-5648 Where [email protected].

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