A second Flagler County resident has died of Covid-19, Flagler Health Department Chief Bob Snyder said this morning. The resident had been in treatment at AdventHealth Palm Coast hospital’s intensive care unit, and died in the early hours of on Easter Sunday.
Details about the individual, such as age and gender, were not immediately available, Snyder said, but were expected to be known soon. “This is not surprising given the unprecedented, tragic evolution of this novel virus, meaning new,” Snyder said, “something we’re learning about as we’re going along. I just found it to be particularly sad, but not unexpected, on Easter Sunday.”
Dorothy Strickland, 70, a resident of Flagler Beach, died of the disease on April 1. Statewide, 446 people have died of Covid-19 so far, out of 19,000 confirmed cases as of Saturday. Cases were expected to reach 20,000 by the end of the weekend. There were 46 confirmed cases in Flagler County as of Saturday evening, including two non-residents. The Department of Health does not indicate how many of the cases have recovered, or how many additional residents are under surveillance for Covid-19.
More than 2,600 Floridians have been hospitalized, cumulatively, seven of them involving Flagler residents and one non-resident. The number does not reflect those who have been been discharged and have recovered. The two fatalities were part of the number of those who were hospitalized.
The disease has infected 1.8 million people and claimed 110,000 lives worldwide so far, with 412,000 recoveries. This weekend, with the number of deaths approaching 21,000, the United States exceeded Italy in fatalities, until then the country with the largest number of deaths. More than half a million Americans have been confirmed to be infected, with 30,500 recoveries so far.
New cases in Florida have been recorded at an average of just over 1,000 per day for almost two weeks, but the numbers have stopped spiking. In other words the curve appears to be flattening, but not yet falling. “We’re seeing the start of that, but we’re still sticking with the model,” Snyder said, referring to a model that shows Florida’s apex of cases around April 21. “That’s the best model we have,” he said of the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington.
The model is calculated much like hurricane models, its projections changing from day to day as new data comes in. The model had previously shown Florida’s peak to be in the first week of May. It then moved the peak to April 21. But on Sunday, the institute’s model for Florida again pushed back the peak use of health care resources to April 26. The model does not foresee a shortage of hospital beds in the state, but it does project a need for over 1,000 ventilators. The peak number of deaths per day are projected around April 27, with 112 deaths, followed by a slow decrease each day through June 1. Florida is expected to lose 4,000 people to Covid-19 by August 4, according to today’s projection by the institute. All the projections are based on the state following social distancing rules.
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attila says
The statement “This is not surprising ” must mean because she was at the Advent Hospital??????
Elizabeth says
Can’t you comprehend what you read?
Of course it doesn’t mean because she was at Advent Hospital! It says “This is not surprising given the unprecedented, tragic evolution of this novel virus, meaning new “…we’re learning about as we’re going along. I just found it to be particularly sad, but not unexpected, on Easter Sunday.” Where does it say anything about because she was in Advent Hospital
Ed says
Not the time to grind axes. Get a grip!
James M. Mejuto says
Attila: I think I agree with your sentiments that hospitals are not to blame for this Virus. They are working
day n’ night to make patients well. We also have to admire these health workers who labor under
ultra dangerous situations to ensure our health. Kinda wonder if they’re getting paid enough?
James M. Mejuto
Nancy says
you need to reread the article.
Concerned Citizen says
Florida has really dropped the ball on handling this Pandemic.
From allowing Spring break and Bike week to continue (IE more concerned about revenue than health) to allowing Hammock Beach Resort and Dr. Patel to keep operating normally to a last minute half ass lock down. I’m highly surprised there aren’t higher numbers and deaths involved.
Here in Palm Coast I’ve watched people blatently ignore the stay home stay safe orders and go about every day busniess. Some laughing about it like it’s a joke. Most are probably carrying the virus and are just helping to spread it around non chalantly. The only gripes being you can’t find toilet paper. Because people selfishly bought it up even though there are no major intestinal issues associated with this. It’s mostly resperatory.
Folks we got extremely lucky with this. Had this been more serious half of you would be dead or dying. Had this been Ebola or small pox I shudder to think of the consequences it would have on our country. I mean look how hard Italy was hit. Our politicans and healthcare system were woefully unprepared and I want to know why.
We live in an era where there are far more deadly diseases. And we could not even handle a severe case of flu. I hope we take lessons from this to heart. However we won’t. This thing will peak and we will flatten the curve. And move on as if nothing ever happened.
Another concerned citizen says
I couldn’t disagree with you more. For the most part, people have been trying to make good decisions with incomplete information. They have done their best to socially distance and yet not become paranoid hermits which you appear to be recommending. You are clearly terrified and it shows with your loose use of the facts. Had this been Ebola or small pox we still would have had only 46 people infected to date. True they would likely be dead rather than the 2 poor souls we have now. This is not the flu as there are 20,000 people that are now dead most from a complicated autoimmune response called a cytokine storm that we still do not fully understand. Clinton started a national preparedness program in the 90s that was augmented by Bush in 2005 after SARS, then fell to disuse through Obama like most things that are not on the medias front burner, like infrastructure, the deficit etc. I for one don’t expect politicians to be infectious disease experts and our medical professionals have been heroes through this. Being prepared means preparing when there is no pandemic to prepare for. Foresight has never been one of our national virtues. I say thank you for the heroes that are working so hard to keep us safe now. They inherited a depleted system and have done amazing things to get it up and running.
The Voice Of Reason says
Your comments are right on point. Certain people and media sources have been guilty of downplaying it to the gullible
Ken says
I just love optimistic people. I’m sure there are some in Palm Coast somewhere.
Vi says
Well,Saturday I saw one barber shop working and one beauty shop working. Think about it.
Janet scott says
What hair salon was open
Maybe they were cleaning their salon??
ShelbyJean Fawley says
I’m definatley not getting that Shit… Cuz I ain’t left the house in almost 3 weeks. I’m getting alittle Stir crazy and figitty,. But at least I’m Not getting sick either.
This is just getting Plum Crazy Ya’ll !!!…🙄😬🤐😵😟😖😡😬😁😀🙄😜😝
Joe says
Good for you, my wife and I are operating on the same thoughts been home for over three weeks. Like most the replies on here can’t believe this selfish non-caring people that are just going about like nothings going on. Went around my block today C section in my truck with the windows up mask, gloves on and saw several big Easter parties one house had seven trucks parked out on the road and at least 20 people in the front yard standing around drinking beer can’t believe it.
WhackAMole says
Florida will lose 4,000 people by August IF social distancing remains in place. If those restrictions are lifted, the deaths will increase. Test reporting is still lagging. Last reports were almost 1,400 backlogged tests. People “close” to the situation claim it is more like 3,000 backlogged tests so any flattening or decline is not representative of what is actually happening. I’ve also seen large increases of cases on Monday, while the weekends have always shown a slight dip. You need at least a 14-day decline in cases to say any flattening of the curve has occurred. We have not seen that yet anywhere in the states.
David Schaefer says
And Your fearless leader Trump wants everyone to go back to work May 1st what a joke……..
Jimbo99 says
I’d like to know if these are Pneumonia deaths in total or whether they truly are COVID-19 ? Not a peep about what the traditional flu season normally has for Pneumonia deaths ? Like the traditional flu just fell off the face f planet Earth ? Add that I read an article about the test kits, in ideal lab setting 5 out of 6 COVID-19 positives were false positives, meaning a test kit indicated COVID-19, when in fact the patient tested did not have COVID-19. with an 83+% error rate, how reliable are the test kits, which are the underlying source for cases and therefore COVID-19 Pneumonia deaths. Flagler county has at last report under 40 cases, this would be the 2nd death and 1st in Flagler county. The first death happened at Halifax in Volusia county of a Flagler County resident. 2018 Data is the last information they have, there were 21 deaths (10 per population of 100,000) from Pneumonia from a traditional flu in Flagler county. We’re 3+ months into 2020 and there are 2 Pneumonia deaths in total from COVID-19. I think we’re seeing a need to create a pandemic here. 2 deaths even if that were per month, would be 24 (2×12) Pneumonia deaths in a calendar year for 2020.
http://www.flhealthcharts.com/charts/DataViewer/DeathViewer/DeathViewer.aspx?indNumber=0125
Hammock Bear says
Is it mandatory in Flagler County that starting Mon. 4-13 everyone is to wear a face mask when going out? Thought this was reported on Orlando TV? IF it is true, Great. If not true, how selfish do people have to be. Beaches Open or Closed? Who ever are the top dogs in charge of the Rules had better step up and shout to the Flagler County Residents as to What is the Rule of Law in dealing with this.
Jls says
I have not heard anything about masks being mandatory in flagler or Volusia counties
Col Bob says
OMG, what do people actually believe about this virus. Do you REALLY believe that when the Government says its OK to back to work and normal life, that all is going to be well……. NOT A CHANCE !!!!!
PREPARE for the 2ND WAVE to hit all those who have been ‘hiding’ in their homes for the last 6 weeks. Then prepare for the MUTATED version ” Covid-19 2.0 ” to strike the country in the Fall……….
NO ONE WILL BE SAFE UNTIL A VACCINE IS GIVEN TO ALL OF AMERICA .
Not fooled by anything said by county officials says
Are we really supposed to believe that there are ONLY 46 cases in Flagler County??? What makes this county so special?..
Answer.. Either; NO TESTING = NO CASES.. or county and city government only caring about making sure to pretend and having people believing that this is “the perfect community“…
Think about it… as many people that reside here and everywhere you go and turn you see the same amount of people and traffic as any other day.
Lance Carroll says
It is obvious that everyone of us needs to do all we can to curb this problem. Let’s keep our distance and support the process of social distancing. I, like most of us, miss the beach and our, mostly, passive way of life. Now is the time to pay attention to the problems we are facing. Now is the time to gather ourselves separately. Let us all do the right things to overcome the epidemics we face. Lance Carroll
Tom P. says
I normally just read comments and shake my head in disbelief. I have been reading the comments on this problem from uninformed people for a few weeks without saying anything. All I see is that the “they” (whomever they are), value money over health and let bike week and spring break go forward and the politicians are not acting fast enough. We are not testing enough! Yada Yada Yada.
Has anyone bothered to look at the facts?
As of Easter Sunday, FL had about 19,000 cases with 446 deaths with about 20 million people. That is 0.095% of the people getting the virus and 2.3% of those infected that died.
The US has 550,000 cases and 21,700 deaths. Using 300,000,000 people that is 0.18% infected and a death rate of 3.9%
Even if you take New York out of the mix, the US infected rate is about 0.15% and the death rate would be about 3.5%.
So let’s compare – Florida has only half the number of infected per population than the rest of the country. Florida’s death rate of those infected is only 60% of the rest of the country.
I would say that Florida has weathered this crisis quite well as compared to other states. Of course that can’t possibly be because the officials took the right actions – can it????
Now factor in another issue regarding the death rates. In a state where there are many more elderly you would think the death rates would be higher than the rest of the country. Not really. Can it be the health care system is more prepared – of course not!
The next argument is that we have not seen anything yet! The worst is to come and we are not ready! As of Friday there were about 48% of all hospital beds in the state not in use. There were about 45% of all intensive care beds open also. We can handle a bit more I would say.
These are all facts. Perhaps people should educate themselves a bit before blaming everybody.
hawkeye says
finally … some one with common sense!
palmcoaster says
All is surrounded by secrecy and we the innocent “canaries in the gold mine” are exposed to those walking around us that are carriers to infect us and then cases then keep growing. Fauci said, as I believe, that if the administration in the WH would have acted 3 months ago with social distance, test, PPE, and ventilators supply we would have not had over 21,000 deaths…this is a modern American holocaust cause only by the ignorance and brute control of only one man…
joe says
“Florida has really dropped the ball on handling this Pandemic.”
So maybe electing a Trump fan-boy wasn’t such a good idea after all…..
Sherry says
To those who continuously post FOX talking points and statistics to try and point out that “other” diseases are more deadly, the flu is worse, auto accidents are more terrible, the percentages aren’t that bad, etc. etc. etc. “I” believe that ONE preventable death is too many!
Hopefully your heart will open and your tune will change when this tragedy involves someone you or someone love. We are NOT expendable numbers on a spreadsheet!
Hopefully, we will also remember those lives needlessly lost at election time!
Billy C says
Thank you, Sherry, I fully agree. I stare at these comments that go into mathematical computations and percentages. Are you trying to prove that the pandemic is not that serious? How do those numerical gymnastics save one single life? So, you wave your numbers and you flaunt safety measures in an effort to support what? Not taking steps to quarantine, social distance and restrict access? We are not expendable numbers on a spreadsheet. Lives are lost because of political malfeasance and selfish individualism. If you think this is overblown, fine. But, don’t try to convince the rest of us that safety first is such a burden on your personal freedom.