OKALOOSA COUNTY, Fla. — Hospitalizations for people with COVID-19 increased by 54 percent this past week in Okaloosa County. In the seven-day period ending January 23, there were 91 new hospital admissions, up from 53 the previous week, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Okaloosa reported 3,365 new COVID-19 cases during the same period according to the CDC. In the previous week, 3,353 new cases were reported.
The testing positivity rate is 48.02 percent, up from 41.13 percent last week.
The CDC reported a 500 percent increase in deaths in Okaloosa the past week. The number of deaths reported is less than 10, according to the CDC. Florida suppresses its COVID-19 death data.
In Walton County, 837 new cases were reported the past week, down from 886 new cases the previous week.
There were 36 new hospital admissions, up from 20 the previous week.
Walton’s positivity rate is 43.01 percent, down from 49.5 percent last week.
The CDC reported a 200 percent increase in deaths in Walton in the past week. The number of deaths reported is less than 10.
According to the CDC, the transmission level of COVID in Okaloosa and Walton counties is “high.” It recommends that everyone in Okaloosa and Walton wear a mask in public, indoor settings.
