Pasco County's Coronavirus Positivity Rate Down To 5 Percent

PASCO COUNTY, FL — One year after Pasco County had its first recorded case of the coronavirus, the positivity rate has fallen to 5 percent, a stark contrast from the highest positivity rate of 24.1 percent on Dec. 28, according to the Florida Department of Health.

Following a traumatic year for business owners, employees, parents and students, Pasco County health officials said the county is seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. As more people are vaccinated, state officials expect the positivity rates throughout the state to continue downward.

As of Thursday, 34,391 people in Pasco County tested positive for the coronavirus since the pandemic began on March 8, 2020. Of those, 2,258 people had to be hospitalized and 668 people died.

Pasco County has now vaccinated 78,673 people with 42,605 people receiving their first doses and 36,068 people completing their second doses. That's more than double the total number of COVID-19 cases in Pasco County.

Over the past several weeks, Pasco County Emergency Management has coordinated the distribution of 21,500 vaccines to people in retirement communities age 65 and older. The Department of Health-Pasco is also working with Pasco County schools to vaccinate employees who are 50 years old and older.

The county is also working with home health agencies, hospitals and physician's offices to provide vaccines to patients.

Additionally, in coordination with the state, Pasco County plans to set up a program to vaccinate home-bound residents who can't travel to vaccination sites.

The DOH-Pasco, in partnership with Pasco County Emergency Management, Sears at the Gulf View Square mall and Saint Leo University, is continuing to provide vaccinations for eligible residents, which Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis recently expanded to include those age 60 to 64.

Residents wanting to be vaccinated can sign up for the next round of vaccinations next week by making an appointment Sunday, March 14 at 2 p.m. through the CDR Maguire Health & Medical patient portal at patientportalfl.com or by calling 1-844-770-8548. Be sure to go CDR Maguire Health & Medical to create an account first before attempting to get an appointment Sunday.

In addition to the county's drive-thru vaccination sites at Gulf View Square mall in Port Richey and Saint Leo University, there are 23 other locations in Pasco County where eligible residents can be vaccinated.

• Publix at Arbor Square at Connerton, 7830 Land O' Lakes Blvd., Land O' Lakes
• Publix at Chelsea Place, 1346 Seven Springs Blvd., New Park Richey
• Publix at Collier Commons, 2121 Collier Parkway, Land O' Lakes
• CVS Pharmacy, 1929 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., Wesley Chapel
• Publix at Hays Road Town Center, 14851 State Road 52, Hudson
• Publix at Hollybrook Plaza, 5400 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., Wesley Chapel
• Publix at Mitchell Ranch Plaza, 3100 Little Road, Trinity
• Publix at River Crossing, 5324 Little Road, New Port Richey
• Publix at Regency Crossings, 7037 Ridge Road, Port Richey
• Publix at Riverwalk Crossings, 1140 Ridge Road, New Port Richey
• County-run site at Gulf View Square, 9409 U.S. 19, Port Richey
• Publix at the Shoppes at New Tampa, 1920 County Road 581, Wesley Chapel
• Publix at the Shoppes at Trinity Lakes, 12500 State Road 54, Odessa
• Publix at the Shoppes of Golden Acres, 9850 Little Road, New Port Richey
• Winn-Dixie, 1640 U.S. 19, Holiday
• Winn-Dixie, 27301 Wesley Chapel Blvd., Wesley Chapel
• Publix at Southgate Shopping Center, 5127 U.S. 19 S., New Port Richey
• County-run site at Saint Leo University, 33701 State Road 52, St. Leo
• Publix at Starkey Ranch Town Square, 13589 State Road 54, Odessa
• Publix at Summertree Plaza, 32765 Eiland Blvd., Zephyrhills
• Publix at The Shoppes at Sunlake Centre, 18901 State Road 54, Lutz
• Publix at The Shoppes of Dade City, 11830 U.S. 301, Dade City
• Publix at Tower Oaks Terrace, 12101 Little Road Hudson
• Walmart, 28500 State Road 54, Wesley Chapel
• Publix at Zephyr Commons, 7838 Gall Blvd., Zephyrhills

Click here an appointment at Publix.

Click here for an appointment at Winn-Dixie.

Click here for an appointment at CVS.

Click here for an appointment at Walmart.

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• No Wait For Vaccinations At Federal Site In Tampa
• Federal Sites To Vaccinate Teachers 50 And Up, Law Enforcement