Central Florida sees rise in COVID-19 variant cases, hospitalizations

This browser does not support the video element.

ORLANDO, Fla. — Central Florida and the rest of the state continue to see cases of the COVID-19 delta variant rise at a fast pace.

The Florida Department of Health isn’t doing daily case updates anymore, but there have been weekly case increases.

WATCH: Infusion therapy helping keep COVID-19 hospitalizations down as case numbers increase

Data shows variant cases are skyrocketing in Central Florida.

From July 16 to July 22, there were over 5,000 cases in Orange County.

In the previous week, July 9 to July 15, there were over 3,000 cases in Orange County.

WATCH: Study suggests Johnson & Johnson vaccine may be less effective against Delta variant

The positivity rate in Orange County also went up during that period.

There has been an increase in both the number of cases and the positivity rate for every Central Florida county during the same time.

One week ago, the emergency management director in Seminole County said hospitals could handle the cases and weren’t overrun yet, but he did have concerns about the direction we were headed in.

READ: Coronavirus: US life expectancy plunged 1.5 years in 2020 amid COVID-19 pandemic

“In Central Florida, at Florida Hospital where I have privileges, and at Celebration Hospital, I’m seeing numbers are going up at both hospitals,” said Dr. Aftab Khan. “Things are changing quite rapidly.”

See more in the video above.

Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, and click here to watch the latest news on your Smart TV.