Doesn't matter where it is. The entire state has increases in infections, hospitalizations and deaths. I do not live in a so called "hot spot" yet the numbers have steadily gone up in my community since the cases first started in my area back in March.
During that same time period, the local paper has gone from having an obituary column to having multiple obituary pages. More people are rapidly dying in my community than ever before.
I have close friends that live in various other sections of the state including the hot spots and I have received similar reports from them. This virus is spreading rapidly in the state.
This is not a local issue. As people travel the risk for infection and spread of the virus increases. By the time testing identifies someone as being infected at least a week has passed and we won't learn of the new infections for at least another week. The virus is way ahead of our testing and we can't keep up with it.
Unfortunately the state has treated this as a local issue and allowed counties and cities to create a patchwork of remedial measures. This has not worked. It a global pandemic and requires a global solution. But that is not going to happen. A national solution would be helpful but we know that will not occur either.
Therefore, due to the fact that proper public health contagious disease policies have not been implemented, the virus will continue with only limited abatement until such time as a safe and effective vaccine becomes available. And that may never happen.
In the early stage of the pandemic, we had the opportunity to contain the disease but the strict public health laws and policies that were needed were not implemented. So now we have to play the long game of mitigation, and that could take several years.
Right now I have noticed that most major retail outlets (Walmart, Target, etc.) have started mandatory mask programs along with social distancing. Now we have a chance in Florida of lowering the spread. But the spread will be complicated by the huge influx of out of state tourists who will not only contribute to local community spread but will also take the disease back to their home base.
So, we're stuck with this mess. But there might be a ray of hope. A vaccine. However, there are a lot of anti-vaxers out there. Plus how many people are going to be willing to take a vaccine that has been rushed into production? My advice is to get a good supply of high quality surgical masks and continue to practice social distancing and hand washing.
, or whatever, but SOMEBODY needs to take the lead and do the right thing.
www.cnn.com
