:strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/C4NJFY5DVNCD5KJDX6D3O27EYY.jpg "Florida’s positivity rate drops as the state launches new COVID-19 vaccine system")
ORLANDO, Fla. – The Florida Department of Health reported more than 12,000 new COVID-19 infections on Saturday, while putting its new telephone vaccine marking system to the test.
FDOH launched a pilot program of the system in an effort to support local municipalities with high demand for coronavirus vaccines. It is a system that Governor Ron DeSantis has been suggesting for the past few weeks, while crossing the expanding state of Pubix’s vaccination program, saying the hotline is part of the state’s strategy to put “older people first”.
According to the Broward Health Department tweet, people aged 65 and over, along with frontline health professionals, can call (866) 201-6313 to request an appointment. Hearing impaired people can call (833) 476-1526.
News 6 called the number to see how the hotline works.
The system offers instructions in English and Spanish. An automated voice asks the caller a series of questions to verify eligibility, asking callers if they are health care professionals or are 65 or older.
People are also asked to enter their date of birth, phone number and postal code so that the hotline can help connect the caller to a nearby vaccination post. If there is no vaccine available, the automated voice warns that you will call the number provided when vaccine is available in the area of the caller.
State officials said a telephone system is more suitable for older people, who may be less used to web-based technology and may need more assistance.
As the hotline continues to be formally implemented, Florida is working to ensure that its vaccines are for residents only.
In a two-page statement signed by Florida surgeon general Scott Rivkees, the state Department of Health noted that “the vaccine remains scarce in the United States and the vaccine’s availability in Florida is extremely limited.”
As a result, Rivkees issued a public health statement that directs “prioritizing Florida residents to the COVID-19 vaccine in Florida”.
This means that vaccine providers must confirm that the recipient of the vaccine is a permanent or seasonal resident by providing a driver’s license or a series of other documents, including rent and utility bills, as specified by the state Department of Health.
To find out if you are eligible for a vaccine in Florida, click here.
[READ YESTERDAY’S REPORT: Virus death toll surpasses 25,000 amid Florida’s rollout of COVID-19 vaccine system]
Cases
The Florida Department of Health reported 12,157 new cases on Saturday, raising the state’s grand total to 1,639,914 cases since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic in March.
Deaths
Florida reported 156 new virus-related deaths on Saturday, bringing the death toll to 25,561. This number includes 397 non-residents who died in Florida.
Hospitalizations
On Saturday afternoon, there were currently 6,698 people with the virus hospitalized in Florida, according to the state Health Administration Agency.
Since March, 70,002 people were hospitalized in Florida after complications from COVID-19. This number includes the 267 new patients who have recently been hospitalized for the virus, according to the daily health department report released on Friday.
Positive rate
The percentage of positive results was 6.54% on Saturday, a significant drop from the previous day.
Health officials say the rate should remain between 5% and 10% to prove that a community contains the virus and is reducing infections.
Vaccinations
The Florida Department of Health recently started releasing a daily report on COVID-19 vaccines administered across the state.
As of Saturday, 1,389,149 people have been vaccinated in Florida. The FDOH also reports that 139,345 people received their second shot.
The state was initially reporting how many people were late for the second vaccination, but has since removed that data point.
[Register for the COVID-19 vaccine in Florida here]
| County | Cases | New cases | Hospitalizations | New hospitalizations | Deaths | New Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brevard | 27,542 | 297 | 1,695 | 10 | 609 | 6 |
| Flagler | 4,940 | 35 | 281 | 0 | 60 | -1 |
| Lake | 20,470 | 174 | 1,088 | 1 | 386 | -6 |
| Marion | 23,209 | 159 | 1,503 | 14 | 562 | two |
| orange | 97,842 | 994 | 2,158 | 9 | 893 | 0 |
| Osceola | 32,033 | 299 | 1,168 | 3 | 334 | 1 |
| Polk | 47,795 | 541 | 3,680 | 15 | 928 | 8 |
| Seminole | 22,928 | 171 | 1,013 | 10 | 353 | 0 |
| Sumter | 6,706 | 60 | 434 | 1 | 169 | -1 |
| Volusia | 29,051 | 201 | 1,442 | 3 | 492 | 0 |
To stay on top of the latest news from pandemic, subscribe to News 6’s coronavirus newsletter and go to ClickOrlando.com/coronavirus.
Copyright 2021 by WKMG ClickOrlando – All rights reserved.