Florida has reached a vaccination rate against covid-19 higher than 40,000 daily doses, according to the state governor said this Saturday, but the incidence of the disease is at the highest levels since the beginning of the pandemic, with more than 15,000 new cases today.
After having touched 20,000 on Thursday and Friday, the new infections totaled 15,445 and the total account since March 1, 2020 stood at 1,464,697, according to data from the Florida Department of Health.
In terms of loss of life, the total is 23,150, including the 346 non-residents who have died here since March due to the pandemic.
"The vaccine is the most effective tool we have to fight the pandemic," said Florida Governor Ron DeSantis today, who has bet everything on vaccination and not on preventive measures that could lead to a halt in activity economical.
DeSantis has not even issued a mandatory mask use order in the state and has warned that it will veto any action by local authorities that leads to the closure of businesses.
About to enter this Monday into the fifth week of vaccination (the first was on December 14), which for now only health personnel, residents of geriatric centers and their employees and those over 65 can access , 384,223 people have already been immunized, of which 14,601 have received the two necessary doses.
To date there are 7,436 people hospitalized in Florida with a diagnosis of coronavirus and 16.71% of the places in intensive care units are free, according to official data.
The positivity in Friday's tests was 10.77%.
THE VACCINE, THE MOST EFFECTIVE TOOL
DeSantis stressed this Saturday that doses of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines have been distributed in all 67 Florida counties, the only two authorized for now in the United States.
The governor, a Republican and close to the outgoing US president, Donald Trump, asserted that Florida is the only state in the country that has begun to vaccinate residents and staff of nursing homes and also the pioneer in vaccination of the age group of people over 65.
DeSantis, who stated that he is waiting for a shipment of 250,000 doses of vaccines from the federal government, stressed that the amount available is still "limited" but assured that Florida "will continue to be aggressive to stay ahead of the curve in such a way that when the supply reaches our infrastructure to be able to process it ».
The state government has made alliances with hospitals, private pharmacy companies and religious faiths to expand vaccination capacity.
Today reported that the hiring process of 1,000 nurses has been completed to complement the personnel already working on vaccination, which includes 800 national guards.
"The demand for the vaccine is high and we know there is no time to waste," said DeSantis.
Although Florida's vaccination program has received much criticism from Floridians, especially due to long waits and difficulties in getting an appointment online, it is known that people from other states and other countries are coming here to receive free vaccines for those over 65.
The media today echoed the indignation of many people who consider it unfair that residents do not have priority in vaccination and that with a limited supply people from other states and countries are vaccinated.
Source: https://www.swissinfo.ch/spa/coronavirus-eeuu_florida-llega-a-ms-de-40.000-vacunas-diarias-contra-la-covid-19/46274338
