MIAMI (CBSMiami) – There has been an increase in COVID cases since a year ago and this is leading to more people getting tested at sites in South Florida.
Dr Aileen Marty, an infectious disease expert at FIU, told Peter D’Oench of CBS4: “My biggest fear is that there will be five times as many cases lately as last year on Remembrance Day. We have very competitive subvariants circulating. In terms of the amount of for example, it’s alarming here in Miami-Dade and Broward, we’re around 20% documented positivity.
He added: “Fortunately, this does not translate into alarming hospitalization rates for a variety of reasons, especially since we also have a lot of immunity in the population and one in two people hospitalized has had COVID at least once, if not twice. 3 times. This makes the next time they receive it a sweeter event. With each passing month, we monitor patients and prevent them from going to the hospital. We still have monoclonal antibodies when we want them. However, and this is a great one though. This can still cause a challenge for other unvaccinated people who have not had COVID.
He said other people are more carefree.
“A lot of other people first contracted COVID during the OMICRON wave and haven’t had many ailments and now have the mindset that it’s not that dangerous. Unfortunately, immunity to the coronavirus fails over time, so those viruses continue. to circulate, they do nothing to protect themselves from this and then it is imaginable that there will be a more serious disease,” he said.
Compared to a year ago, Marty said, “People are much less cautious and there are a lot more viruses circulating right now and a lot more SARS-CoV-2 in our population and that’s a problem. “
Officials proposed that other people register online if they need to get tested at Tropical Park and other Miami-Dade’s. Tropical Park is open for single testing 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Testing is done through licensed nurse practitioners. . Tropical Park is one of the busiest in the county.
Managing the sites is a challenge, said Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava.
She said, “We are the only county in the state that has conducted testing and vaccinations during the pandemic and the federal government is canceling its aid as of July 1. We’re in the process of figuring out what we’re going to do. People can go to pharmacies or pay to get tested. Vaccinations are free. We believe it is imperative to have a broad base of positions where other people can pass. We do our best to encourage schooling and encourage others to stay home. if they are in poor health and get tested. “
D’Oench also spoke to others before they were tested at Tropical Park at 7900 SW 40 Street.
Jennifer Blanchard, who got vaccinated, said: “My husband is HIV-positive and I have symptoms. My throat hurts and my nose is runny nose and I’m in pain. I don’t take any risks. I work with children and I have a little one. “at home that doesn’t feel good either. A lot more people are testing positive than they were a month ago and I want to make sure I don’t spread it and not be contagious. People want to be careful and keep wearing masks and not be complacent.
Kevin Farrah, who was also vaccinated, said: “We are being checked to make sure we are negative. My daughter has been in poor health and my wife is pregnant, so I need to make sure we are fit to leave and not take any risks. I think if the check is loose and you have symptoms, get checked.
Kendra Perdue, who also got vaccinated, said she got tested because “my throat hurts and I’m pregnant. I need to be careful. I urge everyone to be careful and be aware and be smart citizens and get tested and isolate yourself if you have covid.