BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — COVID-19 is leaving its mark on Brevard County, and health officials don’t think the number of new infections has reached a plateau just yet.
They’re looking to reverse the trend by increasing vaccinations.
“We’ve had a few days over the last two weeks where we’ve had over 700 cases in a day,” said John Davis, community health director for the Florida Department of Health Department in Brevard County
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Davis said Friday there are about 400 COVID-19 patients in hospitals across the county.
The surge is putting a strain on resources, including first responders.
“We continue to ask that people use 911 sparingly for nonemergent issues, and to save the ER trips for those who urgently need those services,” said Brevard County Fire Rescue Chief Mark Schollmeyer.
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Don Walker, director of Brevard County Communications, said the recent spike is “taxing our resources from the county, because we got Fire Rescue EMTs that are having to wait long hours at the emergency room because you can’t just drop a patient off and leave. You have to wait until they’re admitted.”
The county is trying to avoid the ripple effect by emphasizing vaccinations. One area medical director said he believes, once vaccines have full FDA authorization, they shouldn’t be optional in certain settings such as schools, which require vaccinations for a host of other illnesses.
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