Delta variant cases on the rise in Orange County

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — For the past several weeks there has been a positive perspective on the pandemic from the Orange County Health Department.

But concerns are growing: The Delta variant has doubled in cases since last Wednesday.

“We have no mask mandate in our county and we have variants that are more infectious and more aggressive,” Orange County Health Officer Dr. Raul Pino said.

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One death is expected to be one of the Delta cases, Pino said, but it has not been confirmed by the state.

Pino said he believes we’re only seeing the tip of the iceberg.

“I’m pretty sure those numbers are higher than what we really know,” he said.

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Each day over the last week, Orange County had more COVID-19 cases than the day before, and the rolling positivity rate has been slightly increasing.

Pino thinks it could be from Memorial Day.

Pino said cities across the country are seeing an increase in hospitalizations, but so far we’re not seeing that increase in Orange County.

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COVID-19 Delta variant: What you need to know (NCD)

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