Florida's Coronavirus Positivity Rate On Downward Trend

FLORIDA — Although DeSantis has been censured by health officials for reopening businesses and schools during a pandemic while they remain closed in other states, the latest Florida Department of Health daily coronavirus data indicates the state is experiencing a downward trend in positivity rates.

As of Friday, Florida had a 5.74 positivity rate, the lowest since Jan. 30 when the state posted a 5.54 percent positivity rate.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention considers a state to have low transmission of the coronavirus when the positivity rate is 5 percent and below. A positivity rate of 5 to 7.9 percent is considered to have moderate transmission.

There's been several times when Florida has gone below the 5 percent threshold:

• Oct. 31 - 1.88 percent
• Nov. 7 - 3.81 percent
• Sept. 28 - 3.83 percent
• Nov. 4 - 4.07 percent

According to the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center, Florida currently ranks as having the 32nd lowest positivity rate in the nation. Hawaii is first with 1.1 percent, Vermont and Maine tie for second with 1.8 percent, and Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Alaska are third with 2.1 percent.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said Florida's declining positivity rate is evidence he was justified in reopening Florida's public schools in August amid national criticism.

"When it comes to education in Florida, we’ve followed evidence and data, not special interests and hysteria," he said during a news conference this week. "We did what was right by our students and families, and we are not turning back."

Florida is among only four state in the nation in which the governors ordered schools to reopen. The other three states are Texas, Oklahoma and Iowa.

"Florida schools are open, and every parent has the right to send their kids to school for in-person instruction," DeSantis said. "Those who insist on keeping the schoolhouse doors closed are ignoring evidence and placing special interests ahead of the best interests of children and families."

DeSantis said the decreasing positivity rate also proves he is on the right track in prioritizing vaccinations for seniors age 65 and older.

DeSantis's critics accused the Republican governor of ignoring federal guidelines for prioritizing vaccines by giving first preference to seniors, one of Florida's largest voting blocs.

In the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines released Dec. 22, the CDC advises first giving vaccines to front-line essential workers including firefighters, police officers, food and agricultural workers, postal employees, manufacturing workers, grocery store employees, public transit workers and teachers, school support staff and daycare workers.

The CDC recommends the population of Americans age 75 years and older be next in line for vaccinations because they are at high risk of hospitalization and death from the coronavirus.
Those age 65 to 74 are third on the CDC's rollout recommendations.

Despite the CDC's recommendations, DeSantis has steadfastly denied the Florida teachers union's request to vaccinate teachers who are not 65 years old or older.

To date, 4,022,026 people have received vaccinations in Florida including nursing home residents and staff, front-line health care workers and first responders.

Of those vaccinated, about half (2,214,476) are seniors age 65 and over.

As of Friday, 1,863,707 Floridians tested positive for the coronavirus with 77,654 people hospitalized and 30,339 deaths since the pandemic started, according to Florida Department of Health daily coronavirus data.

During the past week, the number of those testing positive was less than half of those who tested positive at the state's most recent peak on Dec. 29 when 14,690 tested positive.

• Feb. 19 - 7,150 positive cases
• Feb. 18 - 6,652 positive cases
• Feb. 17 - 5,052 positive cases
• Feb. 16 - 7,222 positive cases

In addition, the number of deaths has been steadily declining throughout January and February.

The state reported two deaths Friday, eight deaths Thursday, 15 on Wednesday and 29 on Tuesday and 33 on Monday, compared to 188 deaths on Dec. 22.

Florida's Positivity Rate

Florida Deaths

New Coronavirus Cases In Florida

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