MIAMI – The level of COVID-19 cases was low in Miami-Dade, Broward, and Monroe counties, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s data tracker on Wednesday, yet the CDC was still encouraging the use of face masks.
Seasonal influenza and respiratory syncytial virus activity remained high, so CDC Director Rochelle Walensky warned the public that more gatherings indoors and the changes in temperature are “good for respiratory viruses, and bad for symptoms.”
Recommended Videos
Walensky also encouraged the public “to wear a high-quality, well-fitting mask to prevent the spread of respiratory illnesses.”
At 13.6%, the COVID-19 new case positivity rate in Broward was among the highest in the state, according to The Florida Department of Health’s report on cases from Nov. 25 to Dec. 1. Miami-Dade showed a 13.3% new case positivity rate.
Omicron continues to mutate. The CDC has been tracking XBB, a new subvariant of omicron, in Florida. Its proportion around the country remains at 5.5% and BQ1.1 and BQ1 still make up over 60% of the cases.
COVID-19 was the cause of death for 34 more people during that period in Florida — increasing the state’s total death toll to 83,201. The pandemic’s death toll in Miami-Dade was 6,472 and 3,079 in Broward.
The state’s case fatality rate since the pandemic began was 1.2% for the general population and nearly 6% for patients who were aged 65 or older, according to the FDOH’s latest report.
Statewide
New COVID case positivity rate: 11.4%
New COVID cases: 18,761
Miami-Dade
New case positivity rate: 13.3%
New cases: 4,876
Broward
New case positivity rate: 13.6%
New cases: 1,907
Monroe
New case positivity rate: 6.9%
New cases: 31