All state-run COVID-19 control sites, adding the Orange County Convention Center operation, will reopen on Friday due to Tropical Storm Isaias, which is sweeping the Caribbean islands with 60 mph winds and is likely to head toward Florida.
Preventive closures will prevent the flow of knowledge about fitness while infection rates in central Florida decreased. But it can also provide a ray of hope: assistance accelerates the effects of the tests, which took weeks to occur.
“This can give labs the chance to catch up,” said Dr. Raúl Pino, head of health at the local state.
Even with the likelihood of fewer tests, Pino suspects positivity rates could increase next week. You suspect that others who feel unhealthy may account for a greater proportion of other people who will get tested than in a general week. Testing from clinical and personal providers will continue.
Pino also suspects that the county will delight in the highest number of deaths in the coming days, as the measure is regularly about two weeks in new hospitalizations. Although in the middle of next week, the rate may begin to decrease, corresponding to the minimum already observed in hospitalizations recently.
Pino said some of other people with COVID-19 who want a bed in intensive care will die. Currently, the county has 89 beds of extensive care.
He also oversees epidemics at several assisted living centers throughout the county.
Conway Lakes Health – Rehabilitation, near Curry Ford Road, has 19 workers and 24 patients who test positive for the virus. A total of five other people were hospitalized and two patients died, Pino said.
At Orlando Health and Rehab, 56 members tested positive, but none had to be hospitalized. Eighty-four patients tested positive; None needed to be hospitalized but one died, Pino said.
At Avante in Orlando, 16 members are positive for COVID-19 and 41 citizens are positive for the virus.
Twenty-seven members of Colonial Lakes Health Care tested positive and 36 citizens also tested positive, Pino said. Eight citizens were transferred to hospitals and 8 died by COVID-19, he said.
At Rio Pinar Health Care, 36 members are positive for COVID-19, as well as 18 citizens. Seven citizens were transferred to hospitals and two died.
State knowledge shows that 8.3% of the effects that returned Wednesday were positive, and by last week, positivity rates were at a figure, Said Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings.
Demings said the county was following isaias’ trail. Projections show that the typhoon will bring winds between 35 and 55 mph and up to two inches of rain. “It’s too early right now to say what’s going to happen,” Demings said.
The deceleration in typhoon testing occurs when more than 76,000 COVID-19 tests have been conducted in the county in the past two weeks, according to state physical fitness data, and physical care staff evaluated more than 90,000 people at the state convention. center since its opening on March 25.
Orange County fitness staff assessed another 20,000 people at locations, recently at the Econ Football Complex north of Highway 50 in East Orange. The county site is evaluating another 500 people a day, public safety director Danny Banks said.
They give him face mask and hand sanitizer.
The county won’t open Friday either, spokeswoman Kelly Finkelstein said.
“According to weather forecasts, the Orange County Health Services team plans to go to the Econ Football Complex between half and the end of next week,” he said.
Orlando, which operated a cellular site on Wednesdays at locations, will open some other COVID-19 control site next week while driving and will be available to pedestrians. The tests are loose for anyone over the age of 18 with a valid photo ID with an Orlando address.
Appointments are mandatory and can be made on Fridays in orlando.gov/covid19testing.
The Hurricane Center has projected a trajectory showing Isaiah moving near Florida’s east coast this weekend. County officials suggested seeking shelter to call 311, the county’s data line. Operators are on call Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to nine p.m. weekends from nine a.m. to five p.m.
———
© 2020 The Orlando Sentinel (Orlando, Florida)
Visit The Orlando Sentinel (Orlando, Florida) in www.OrlandoSentinel.com
Distributed through Tribune Content Agency, LLC.