AdventHealth: COVID-19 Hospitalizations Drop Across Central Florida Again

Daytona Beach, FL – AdventHealth’s Central Florida Division says a recent COVID-19 patient census shows that the number of hospitalizations continues to drop. The recent report from the Altamonte Springs-based healthcare network says the most recent census dropped to 330 patients across hospitals in Orange, Seminole, Osceola, Polk, Lake, Volusia and Flagler counties. With this, AdventHealth continues to operate under a “green” status, meaning the hospital is continuing normal operations. Additional reports from AdventHealth also say the community positivity rate also continues to fall, reaching a new low of 6.7 percent this week, according to data collected by Centra Care—AdventHealth’s network of urgent care clinics. The decline is also mirrored across symptomatic and asymptomatic adult patients and symptomatic children, but the rate of positive tests among asymptomatic children has remained steady. “The risk of acute COVID-19 in children can be quite serious, which is why we recommend eligible children receive the vaccine,” said Dr. Michael Keating, chief medical officer for AdventHealth for Children. “The vaccine not only reduces the risk of severe illness, but also helps control the spread of the virus from children, who may not show any symptoms, to more vulnerable people.” While some children develop few, if any, symptoms, others treated at AdventHealth for Children have developed multisystem inflammatory syndrome, which can affect the heart and other organs, according to the healthcare network. The best way to protect yourself from COVID-19 is to wear a face mask, wash your hands, and get a COVID-19 vaccine. If you’re looking to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, be sure to visit the state health department’s vaccine locator to find an opportunity closest to you.