New COVID-19 cases in Polk County rose last week to 1,792 from 495 the previous week, according to the latest weekly tally from the Florida Department of Health. That 262% increase is the largest week-over-week jump since the state started reporting coronavirus numbers in March 2020.
Category: Health
Posted inHealth
Polk Seeing an Upward Bump in COVID-19 Cases
After Polk County experienced its lowest COVID-19 numbers in months during November, both the volume of cases and testing positivity have gradually increased during December. Dr. Joy Jackson, who directs the Florida Department of Health’s Polk office, calls last week’s 32% week-over-week rise in new cases “quite alarming” and warns we could be seeing a […]
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Hospital Launching a Residency Program With First Students Arriving in 2023
Lakeland Regional Health’s quest to become a teaching hospital will soon become a reality with the first students expected to start on July 1, 2023, hospital CEO Danielle Drummond announced at today’s Lakeland City Commission meeting.
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As Polk COVID Cases Fall, Testing Positivity Drops to Lowest-Ever Level
COVID 19 in Polk County for the week ending Nov. 4, according to the Florida Department of Health: New cases: 332, the lowest since mid-June 2020 and the 10th consecutive week of decreases Testing positivity: 2.8%, the lowest since testing started in March 2020 (The state is no longer disclosing how many people were tested.) New vaccinations: 1,649, […]
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State Closes Its Free Monoclonal Antibody Center in Lakeland
The state of Florida shut down its monoclonal antibody treatment center in Lakeland on Friday amid lessened demand for the COVID-19 treatment, News Channel 8 reports. At least 12 of the state’s 25 sites are closing, the station reports. While treatments at the state’s centers are free, patients may face a charge at hospitals or […]
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Polk’s COVID-19 Numbers Declining; Testing Positivity Lowest in 17 Months
COVID 19 in Polk County for the week ending Oct. 28, according to the Florida Department of Health: New cases: 413, the lowest since mid-June Testing positivity: 3.4%, the lowest since mid-May 2020 New vaccinations: 1,626, down from 1,754 the previous week. Vaccinations have decreased every week since 9,560 were administered the last week of […]
Posted inHealth, Schools
Polk Schools Lose 17 Employees to COVID-19 This School Year
COVID-19 has claimed the lives of at least 17 Polk County Public Schools employees this school year; twelve were “active” employees who had returned to work when classes resumed this fall, and five had not returned. School Board member Lynn Wilson tells News Channel 8, “Our hands are tied. The reality is — you can’t […]
Posted inHealth, Public Safety
COVID Absences Prompted Fire Department to Pause Non-Essential Services for a Month
With nearly a third of its sworn employees out because of COVID-19 cases or quarantines, the Lakeland Fire Department paused “non-essential duties” and had some firefighters working 48-hour shifts regularly during September, department leaders told city commissioners on Monday. Normal operations resumed Oct. 1, The Ledger reported in a subscribers-only story. Source: The Ledger
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COVID in Polk: New Infections, Testing Positivity Continue Declining
The number of new COVID-19 infections in Polk County dropped for a fifth straight week to 1,455 new cases, nearly the same level as the second week of July, a period when the delta-fueled surge was just starting its rapid ascent.
Posted inHealth, Schools
As COVID Declines in Polk Schools, Worries Emerge on New Quarantine Rules
Polk School Board members heard mixed messages on COVID-19 in local schools when they met Tuesday, The Ledger reports. Infections involving students and staff have steadily decreased during the last three weeks, Superintendent Frederick Heid said. But he and an infectious disease expert expressed worries about the effects of new, laxer state rules regarding quarantines […]