The number of new COVID cases increasing in Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Walton

OKALOOSA COUNTY, Fla. — The number of new COVID-19 cases in Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, and Walton counties increased over the past seven days, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s COVID Data Tracker.

In Okaloosa County, new cases rose by 17.87 percent over the previous week, the COVID Data Tracker reported today.

In neighboring Santa Rosa County, new cases are up 16.14 percent, and in Walton County, new cases are up 31.39 percent over the previous week, according to the tracker.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported 554 new COVID-19 cases in Okaloosa during the seven-day period ending July 20; 662 new cases in Santa Rosa County; and 180 new cases  in Walton County.

According to the CDC, the Community Level of transmission is “High” in Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, and Walton counties. The CDC recommends using COVID-19 Community Levels to determine the impact of COVID-19 on communities.

According to the CDC, in Okaloosa County:

• The case rate is 262.89 per 100,000
• New COVID-19 hospital admissions are 21.8 per 100,000
• Staffed inpatient beds in use by patients with confirmed COVID-19 is 5.1 percent

According to the CDC, in Santa Rosa County:

• The case rate is 359.17 per 100,000
• New COVID-19 hospital admissions are 21.8 per 100,000
• Staffed inpatient beds in use by patients with confirmed COVID-19 is 5.1 percent

According to the CDC, in Walton County:

• The case rate is 243.01 per 100,000
• New COVID-19 hospital admissions are 21.8 per 100,000
• Staffed inpatient beds in use by patients with confirmed COVID-19 is 5.1 percent

The CDC recommends that people wear a mask indoors in public and on public transportation in Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, and Walton counties.

The Community Transmission Level is determined by:

• The number of new cases in the county in the past 7 days divided by the population in the county (or other administrative level) multiplied by 100,000.
• Total number of new admissions of patients with confirmed COVID-19 in the past 7 days divided by the total population in the Health Service Area, multiplied by 100,000.
• Percentage of staffed inpatient beds in use by patients with confirmed COVID-19 within the entire Health Service Area (7-day average).

Visit the CDC’s COVID Data Tracker HERE.