Pinellas Coronavirus Positivity Rate Back Up To 11 Percent

PINELLAS COUNTY, FL — More than 20,300 people have received at least the first dose of the coronavirus vaccine in Pinellas County to date, but the distribution process through the federal and state government will take time to reach everyone.

Florida Department of Health-Pinellas Director Dr. Ulyee Choe shared this and other updates at Thursday’s Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners work session during a week when the state began broader distribution of the vaccine.

The state-run health department is planning to partner closely with Pinellas County government to improve communications about future vaccine availability after the initial rollout of vaccines for those 65 and older faced technical difficulties earlier this week.

The gradual state vaccine rollout comes at a time when coronavirus cases are spiking, with the county now averaging around an 11 percent positivity rate among those tested and an all-time high for new daily cases on New Year’s Eve of 878.

That’s why everyone – including those who are being vaccinated – need to continue social distancing, washing hands and following the county’s mask protocol, said Pinellas County Administrator Barry A. Burton.

“We’re going to get into a critical time over the next month, and we’re asking people to do everything they can,” Burton said.

Since the holidays, the county has reached a total of 1,110 deaths, and the virus is putting increasing strain on hospitals, with more patients coming in and more staff getting exposed or sick, Choe said.

With only two vaccine manufacturers supplying the entire nation, distribution to local communities will initially be a slow process, with vaccines reaching Pinellas residents through hospitals, health centers, pharmacies and government agencies, Choe said.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has given priority for receiving the vaccine to those age 65 and up. That represents around 250,000 people in Pinellas who will all need two doses of the vaccine, Choe said.

Pinellas was among the first two counties in the state to start vaccinations last month for paramedics, first responders and at long-term care facilities, which have suffered a disproportionate number of coronavirus deaths.

The state has not announced the number of vaccines coming to Pinellas in the coming weeks, but as new vaccine supplies become available, the county will share this information online at: https://covid19.pinellascounty.org/vaccines/

This press release was produced by the Pinellas County Government. The views expressed here are the author’s own.