New data released by the state shows that since the beginning of April the last time the state provided the data COVID-19 variant cases have increased 172% in Alachua County. Cases also are on the rise in surrounding counties.
As of May 5, 90 variant cases have been identified in Alachua County, compared withjust 33 cases about a month earlier on April 8. The cases include at least 37 women and 43 men who range in age from 3 to 78.
Most of the affected people don’t have a travel history, but some had traveled around Florida and other southern states, as well as New York and Colorado.
Man missing after boat crash on Suwannee River Tuesday night WCJB Staff
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O’BRIEN, Fla. (WCJB) - A Suwannee Co. man is missing after a boat he was in crashed on the Suwannee River Tuesday night.
According to the family of the missing man, the individual who is being searched for is Andor Dora, of O’Brien.
According to Suwannee County Sheriff’s Deputies, three men were on the river around 8 pm when their boat suffered a mechanical issue that caused the boat to accelerate quickly into a tree.
Local hospitalizations with a primary diagnosis of COVID-19 are up this week compared with last, the most recent state data show.
Tuesday afternoon, 52 patients at Alachua County hospitals had a primary diagnosis of COVID-19 an increase since last week, according to data from Florida’s Agency for Health Care Administration. Hospitals had about 16% available capacity, and overall bed availability has been stable for the past month.
The overall number of new cases has remained relatively low the past few weeks. Alachua County on Tuesday reported 27 new coronavirus cases, for a total of 24,744. The two-week positivity rate for new cases is 3.5%, similar to last week.
The county s total virus fatalities remain at 275.
Monday afternoon, 45 patients at Alachua County hospitals had a primary diagnosis of COVID-19 a decrease since last week, according to data from Florida’s Agency for Health Care Administration. Hospitals had about 18% available capacity, and overall bed availability has remained stable for the past month.
Statewide, there were 3,075 new cases Monday for a total of 2,245,853.
Alachua County public schools have reported 311 staff and 706 student cases since Aug. 17, 2020. There are 15 active cases, and another 122 students or staff are quarantined for possible virus exposure.
The University of Florida s coronavirus testing and case dashboard includes positive case totals dating back to March 2020. Spring semester classes have ended, and testing data is not available for Saturday.