SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. — Seminole County officials said the county has seen a spike in COVID-19 cases in recent days, leading to growing concern about again slowing the spread of the virus.
“This is a big deal, and it’s getting worse,” Seminole County Medical Director Todd Husty said in a news conference on Thursday.
An increase of 34 cases was reported Wednesday followed by 36 new cases reported on Thursday.
READ: Florida sees another 1,300 plus jump in COVID-19 cases as statewide death toll tops 2,800
In comparison, the previous average increase for cases in the county was two to four per day.
Seminole County Emergency Manager Allan Harris said those increases are not due to increased testing. He said testing has actually decreased in the county as demand has lowered.
Husty said the numbers that the county is seeing “definitely” classify as a spike.
“If we give (the virus) the opportunity to spike, it will spike,” he said.
Seminole County officials said there is a way to have a semi-normal life and continue to reopen businesses while also being safe and slowing the spread.
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Husty said that must include vigilant hand washing, social distancing and wearing face coverings.
Husty said he’s found the increase in recent cases and lack of preventative measures, like wearing masks, “disheartening” and “disturbing.”
“It is coming back and it has the possibility of coming back with a vengeance,” Husty said.
One piece of good news reported in the new conference was that since the last county update two weeks ago, not additional deaths have been reported in Seminole County.
County officials also reported Thursday that after Seminole County did not receive any of the CARES Act after falling about 30,000 short of the 500,000 population threshold, Gov. Ron DeSantis will be sending some of that money their way. The exact amount is still unknown.
Local business owners said any little bit will help.
“It's a hard thing to do to keep your prices the same knowing that things have went up,” said Shantell Williams, the owner of Shantell's.
County Chairman Jay Zembower said the money will help with rent, overhead needs, housing and food, as well as personal protection equipment costs.
BE SAFE: Since yesterday, 34 new COVID-19 cases have been reported in Seminole County, which is the largest single-day...
Posted by Seminole County FL on Wednesday, June 10, 2020
Watch the news conference in full in both English and Spanish below:
WATCH LIVE: Seminole County officials provide COVID-19 updateHealth officials in Seminole County are providing an update on the steady increase of positive COVID-19 cases throughout the county. Read: at.wftv.com/37uajF7
Posted by WFTV Channel 9 on Thursday, June 11, 2020
Stay tuned to Channel 9 Eyewitness News for updates.
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