ORLANDO, Fla. — With researchers predicting the peak of Omicron at the end of the week, anticipation is mounting that the early signs of a slowing surge could become visible at any time.
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On Wednesday, Orange County got its first hint, with a Florida Department of Health official confirming data was skewing in a positive direction.
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“I don’t have any strong confidence in my internal crystal ball,” Dr. Alvina Chu said, when asked by Eyewitness News. “In the last week or so, we have seen a decrease in the increases in cases.”
According to University of Florida projections, Omicron’s peak transmission days happened in the first few days of January. However, case reports take a few days to catch up, and were expected to hit their max on or before January 15.
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UF researchers in @UFPHHP and @UF_CLAS updated their projections for the #Omicron wave in Florida and now estimate it will peak in mid-January. More here: https://t.co/VgzH3YHeX9
— Emerging Pathogens Institute (@EPI_UF) January 5, 2022
Once that peak passes, case levels are expected to return to lull status by the end of the month. Researchers expect the break to last six months or more, as long as no new variants emerge.
Hospitalizations are expected to peak one week after cases, and deaths one week after that.
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