Florida sets COVID-19 infection record but hospitalizations remain low

Florida, which up until last month boasted the lowest per capita COVID-19 case rates in the nation, set its daily COVID-19 case record on Wednesday, recording nearly 47,000 new infections as the omicron variant continues to ravage the United States, NBC Miami reported.

According to new data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the 46,923 cases recorded on Tuesday – the highest recorded in Florida since the beginning of the pandemic – pushed the state’s total to 4,012,152 cases since March 2020. Florida first broke the record on Christmas Eve when it reported 32,874 new cases.

Cases have been rising sharply across the country as Americans continue to travel during the holidays – but researchers have stated that rising case numbers is not as important as hospitalization rates.  

The Florida Hospital Association recorded more than 2,700 hospitalizations on Tuesday, which is significantly lower than the 17,000 hospitalizations that the state recorded during the peak of the summer delta wave.

But epidemiologists on Monday warned that as holiday travel continues and testing sites remain full, Florida hospitals are at risk of being overwhelmed.

Mary Mayhew, president of the Florida Hospital Association noted that although hospitalizations are low, admissions are indeed rising and providers are preparing for the worst.

"Hospitals are evaluating their staffing models," Mayhew said. "They are assessing any contracts that they may need for additional staffing, and they are analyzing all of their physical plant space to be ready."