Coronavirus: Florida sees COVID-19 spike ahead of holiday season

ORLANDO, Fla. — COVID-19 cases are spiking in Florida and across the country.

But experts say there is some good news for people in our state when it comes to how the virus is being handled.

An even greater jump in cases this week has increased Florida’s rolling average to 7,000 new cases daily.

Watch: Officials warn holiday gatherings could add to COVID-19 surge

That’s nearly half of the cases that were reported this summer at the height of the spike.

The data indicates there’s still a good chance the outcome could be different this time.

We’re still a far cry from the summer, when we were averaging 15,000 cases statewide every day, but numbers have increased significantly.

We’re now averaging about half the number of cases as we did at the height of the last spike.

Watch: Tropical Storm Iota becomes the 30th named storm of the season

“So, cases certainly are trending upward,” said University of Florida epidemiologist Cindy Prins.

The numbers tell the story for Prins.

Statewide and in Central Florida, the last several weeks have seen a steady march up the y-axis.

The first piece of good news Prins mentioned was, “I think we do have a lot better medical management of COVID-19 than we did early on.”

Read: Manatee grazes on Florida lawn during Tropical Storm Eta

The death rate for people who get COVID-19 has reduced by half since the start of the pandemic.

“We’re so fortunate in Florida to have such beautiful weather, especially this time of year,” Prins said.

Prins said the warmer temperatures have helped people better maintain physical distancing at the many events now coming back, or while hanging out with friends.

Prins said Floridians have to stay vigilant to turn things around.

See the full report in the video above.

Cox Media Group