The Flagler Department of Health confirmed today that a 50-year-old woman died of Covid-19, the third death of a Flagler County resident attributed to the disease in three days, bringing the county’s total to eight.
The county also reported 26 new positive cases of coronavirus, a single-day record, bringing the week’s total so far to 127, also a record, with one day of reporting to go in the week. Flagler County has now reached a cumulative 600 cases since the pandemic began in March, a number unimaginable even a few weeks ago. More than a third of the cases have been confirmed only in the last 14 days, with a positivity rate of 9.6 percent during that span.
AdventHealth Palm Coast is an epicenter of the surge. “As of yesterday, there were 16 hospitalizations related to Covid in our facility,” Health Department Chief Bob Snyder said today. “I don’t really know the mix of ICU versus PCU, but I believe it’s more PCU patients related to Covid–Progressive Care Unit, it’s a step-down unit from the intensive care unit.”
We’re kind of getting clobbered here in Flagler County,” Snyder said in comments on WNZF radio this morning and in a phone interview later. On Thursday, the health department had reported the death of a 50-year-old man, and the day before, the death of an 82-year-old man.
Florida reported 11,466 new coronavirus cases today and 130 more deaths, for a total of 327,000 cases and 4,912 deaths. The seven-day average of daily deaths rose to 101 today, belying earlier claims by Gov. Ron DeSantis that the ongoing surge was less lethal or more manageable than in April, when daily death averages remained in the low 50s. The age of those dying–as has been the case in Flagler the last two days–has not necessarily fit the profile of April’s death, though people 60 and older continue to account for the majority of fatalities.
Snyder and Stephen Bickel, a physician and the director of the Flagler and Volusia health departments, spoke in sobering terms today of the spread of the disease, making no distinction in the “dire situation” between the county and the state. Their position contrasts with that of a few elected officials in the county who continue to brag about the county’s lower numbers, compared to other parts of the state–an irrelevant comparison considering the damaging effects the numbers are having locally.
“I think we’ve done a great job in our community, I think the numbers are great, the last thing I think you do is go and punish the community for doing so well. I don’t want to act like the rest of the state. Our numbers are low. What we’ve done here is phenomenal,” County Commissioner Joe Mullins said earlier this week, speaking in opposition to mandating mask-wearing and ridiculing the mandates Palm Coast, Bunnell and Flagler Beach passed last week, though half the government jurisdictions in the country now have a mandate in some form. Janet McDonald, who chairs the school board, has been writing teachers concerned about returning to school on Aug. 10, telling them that major flu seasons in the past have been more impactful on school age children without closing.
Both elected officials’ claims are wrong, at least based on what Snyder and Bickel, who reflect the consensus of the public health and medical community on Covid-19, say: the coronavirus is not like the flu–it is far more infectious, more lethal, and more debilitating to many of those who are hospitalized and survive–nor are Flagler’s numbers “great,” but grim.
“We’re getting clobbered, that’s our word these days,” Bickel said. “It’s a lot more contagious than the flu, it’s kind of sobering how quickly the numbers shoot up as soon as we come out of the lockdown. It’s right there, this is happening round the world, it’s that a lot of these other countries are seeing these surges or bounces from a very low level where we’re seeing it from a higher level, and it’s very concerning.”
Bickel addressed misconceptions: “The other thing that people don’t necessarily understand,” he said, “is that once you get a certain level of cases in an area, it is not that easy to get that number down. I was just quoted a week or so ago about the case growth rate. If you use widespread mask use, you could get the case growth rate down to zero. Well, that doesn’t mean no cases. That just means the case count isn’t going up every week. Once you get to a high number, we talk about this R number, this reproductive number. If the R number is 1, that means you have 100 cases week one, 100 cases week two, 100 cases week three, on like that. If it’s 1.4, it means you have 100 cases week one, you have 140 cases the next cycle, it doesn’t even have to be a week. Then it goes up to 200. That’s what Florida was experiencing about a month ago, the R number for Florida was 1.47. It’s now down to 1.07, so we’ve made a lot of progress. It’s probably from three things: masks, people regulating themselves, just not going out as much, and to some degree, it’s some of the other measures that have been put in place. The problem is that now that we are at 10,000 to 15,000 cases in Florida a day, they don’t just drop by themselves.”
Unlike the flu, the coronavirus is not as affected by warmer weather, Bickel said, as the explosion of cases at the height of summer is indicating. “So I just urge people to realize what a battle this is, and it’s not a time for complacency, it’s not a time for divisiveness. This is a time to get the job done. It’s a big task here. It’s really daunting,” he said.
The Flagler health department is ramping up its community testing efforts. The Daytona State College testing site that has been one of the principal and steadiest testing sites for months will close by month’s end but only because it’s shifting to Cattleman’s Hall at the county fairgrounds off sawgrass road in Bunnell, where testing hours will double. The DSC testing site has been operating Mondays Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to noon. The site at Cattleman’s Hall will operate the same days but until 3 p.m., with capacity for 200 tests a day starting on July 27. (Call the same number for an appointment: 386-313-4200.)
“I wanted to find a large location, a cavernous kind of space where we could be indoors safely and effectively,” Snyder said, “so our nurses could get out of the oppressive heat as well as the individuals being tested, what Cattleman’s Hall does is, it provides that solution.”
He said the department will be adding up to 40 additional staffers, but has added just 16 so far. “to respond to this tremendous surge of activity related to Covid in our community.” The goal: bringing the positivity rate below 3 percent. “The workload of our staff has tripled, I can’t imagine what it’s like at the hospital.”
The school district is continuing its plans to reopen by Aug. 10, but is offering three options, two of them remote instruction, making it possible that fewer students will attend in-person school than learn from home. Volusia County schools elected to delay school opening by at least a week beyond its initial start date of Aug. 17. Polk and Hillsborough County schools are doing likewise–by two weeks–with boards in Duval, Orange and other districts considering similar shifts.
In California, the governor today announced that most students will have to abandon in-person instruction until further notice, on a day when the total number of coronavirus cases in the United States surged by 75,000, yet another record–and a number unseen anywhere in the world at any point in the pandemic. The nation also reported close to 1,000 deaths.
A note about the positivity rate: This morning on the radio, Health Department Chief Bob Snyder referred to a 6.9 percent positivity rate over the past 14 days. He was relying on a county-by-county report that shows day-by-day tests and positive cases. But those totals combine the more accurate PCR tests and antigen testing data, a rapid test with a higher chance of false negatives. Antigen numbers have been used to dilute the positivity rate. As covidtracking.com notes, “On July 1, the Florida Department of Health started mixing antigen test results with PCR test results and calculating an overall percent-positive rate using this commingled data. The state does not break out the number of each type of test reported. Because these tests perform differently and antigen tests are more likely to provide false negative results, these tests should not be combined in reports. They should also not be used to calculate the percent positivity, which is likely to be artificially lowered by the inclusion of a test with a greater percentage of false negatives. Antigen tests are also not considered to be “confirmatory” tests, so people with positive antigen tests alone don’t count as confirmed cases of COVID-19. In fact, they don’t even count as probable cases without additional epidemiological or clinical evidence. Antigen test totals and results should be provided separately.” FlaglerLive from the beginning of the pandemic has relied only on the overall state report that reports only confirmed cases to the health department, which reflects a lower number of tests overall–though that’s the number the state is relying on as a measure of its overall testing efforts. (See Flagler’s numbers in the state report on page 24 of today’s report.)
Coronavirus Resources
All about the dollar says
When the School Board Members can have a meeting for several hours face to face then they should be able to decide what should happen with the students and faculty returning to the schools. Until they themselves can stop hiding behind screens and having virtual meetings then they need to take a seat and stfu. How can schools require vaccine records for a child to attend yet they want children to attend during a pandemic with no cure or vaccine. Seems they only care about the almighty dollar. Funding would be cut if schools werent reopening so in order to keep that money they choose to put others at risk. Why is this not surprising?
Lance Carroll says
Not surprising to me at all. I believe that you have hit the nail right on the head….dollar$!
Christopher Goodfellow says
Well said.
J.Radcliffe says
This might be the smartest thing ive read as it relates to schools reopening.
“How can schools require vaccine records for a child to attend yet they want children to attend during a pandemic with no cure or vaccine?”
buck up buttercup says
The dollar is only part of it, children need school, and the socialization it offers. Schools can require vaccines for their students, and I’m sure the Covid-19 vaccine will be added to the list. Society in general needs to move towards a more normal environment. Shutting down the economy for 1% of the population, and less than .5% deaths is ludicrous. People die every day, and 99% of these deaths were not preventable.
Les Paul says
The fatality rate is .037. That’s 7 times higher than you suggest!
Steve says
Well with the Likes of Mullins and Co. continuing to talk out their backsides about a Contagious Virus Globally and locally that is out and propagating in the general population and not contained. No policy plan procedure or implemetation to combat outcone which is grim. Keep the Faith
Anonymous says
YES!!! I have been saying this now for quite some time and I am pissed that our children are even being given an option to return given the consistent increase in cases and deaths. Snyder, during a zoom meeting, stated that the “situation in the county is dire.” Schools reopening for in-house is sadistic!! They need to push out the reopening while monitoring the cases and or continue virtually as they did in the spring. Assign the teachers, have them make contact with the parents and go virtual. Our kids are being given an option to be put in harms way …. that option is what is WRONG!!! I foresee many current county officials not returning once elections start.
Lil bird says
Be it noted that Snyder, during said zoom meeting, was wearing a mask– inside his own home.
In 6 months there have been 8 deaths from this virus in our county. Eight. And this is considered “dire” yet more have died in the same timeframe from suicide?
These are the real facts but the above fools make headlines & policy decisions.
Anonymous says
Just because you believe in person education is wrong does not mean everyone else has to follow. This is why the district has offered 3 options. They seem to somewhat understand that some people are concerned or scared of having their children go back while others do not share that concern . If you are scared or concerned, keep your kids home. Each family has the right to decide what is best for their family and children. We do not all need government to tell us what to do. Calling the reopening Sadistic is ridiculous hyperbole.
mark101 says
The key words ““It’s a lot more contagious than the flu, it’s kind of sobering how quickly the numbers shoot up as soon as we come out of the lockdown”, and how quick people get infected when the majority are not wearing mask and not observing social distancing. . Numbers will continue to raise until people finally support their fellow citizens, even if they don’t like the mask. . Its not about one, its about many.
Duncan says
I just baffled as to the sheer ignorance of our elected officials. They should realize that there number one duty, not number two of three, is to protect the health and wellbeing of our citizens.
Then you have another idiot comparing COVID to the flu, McDonald is on the School Board but obviously does not know how to read the data.
I would be scared to death as an educator to got back, kids spread viruses like peanut butter and jelly! Why risk your lives and your families livers because we have a Governor in total denial?
Technology is everywhere we look, online learning has been around for decades and Florida has a strong online learning platform that has been in use for years. Simply put, it’s not the job of educators to put their lives in danger to act as a baby sitting service.
Figure it out Parents! Your adults, act like it and take responsibility for your children!
I have never been so disappointed in federal, state, and county leadership!
Person who lives in Palm Coast says
It seems that there are still quite a few citizens who believe it’s a political hoax and that the joke is on our economy. The messaging is challenging. We don’t want or need all people to fear for their lives but to consider the implications of rapid spread. It affects hospital capacity, it means more people die who wouldn’t have died. We have the means to stop this from getting too bad just by being mindful and wearing masks to prevent ourselves from spreading, washing hands, and social distancing. We don’t have to shut everything down and live in fear if we just take it seriously enough to behave in a way that prevents spread.
moc says
Why wont they tell people were in the county the people that get the virus are from and wear they may have gotten it from
Trailer Bob says
It is getting to the point where I cannot believe anything I read regarding the COVID-19 issue. I do know HOW to read, just feeling like not many others know how to convey what the reality is.
I do know that we are having way too many cases, according to this one and that one? Who ever they are.
This is SO much fun.
Christopher Goodfellow says
I note Mullins comments about “doing great”. I hope voters will remember the next time he comes up for election that it was he who was pushing so hard for a rushed early opening not fully understanding the ramifications but parroting the Trump line to get back to work before any reasonable safeguards were in place. His absolute refusal to lead by example on masks making the mask a political issue rather than simply a health issue – in fact all those commissioners should have been out in Public places with masks setting an example in February ( as I was) . I frankly could not care less if Flagler is a Trump county as Joe wishes constantly telling everyone else to leave or a Democratic county. I think most of us sincerely want the return of a healthy Flagler. Joe Mullins is not an educated man. Stop listening to the constant boosterism and lets put our shoulders to the wheel and act responsibly and get a hold on this virus. Believe it or not the vast majority of us in Flagler are smarter than most of the Commissioners and we are far more adaptable. We had this under control before the reckless early openings. We can do so again. A big part of that is growing up and wearing a mask and acting responsibly.
TD1 says
Meantime , Trump & Ivanka are promoting Goya products from the WH .
DeSantis , the lapdog , is self destructing under his direction .
And Trump minions still calling it a massive conspiracy and won’t wear masks .
It’s time for me to wear both masks and a face shield .
John Stove says
While school age children “may not” have to be hospitalized or suffer anything more than snifles, they are exposing the teachers, custodians, administrators, bus drivers, security staff, coaches etc and by extension the families of these same people. If schools are re-open to face to face teaching in this time of a world wide pandemic, we will see teachers, custodians, administrators, bus drivers, security staff, coaches etc fall ill or in order to protect themselves retire or quit.
What are we trying to accomplish here other than more exposure to others?
Huffington Post July 17,2020
“Of the 54,022 people under the age of 18 who have been tested for COVID-19 in Florida, 16,797 of them, or roughly 31%, have tested positive, data released Friday shows. In comparison, roughly 11% of everyone in the state who has been tested for the virus — roughly 2.8 million people — has tested positive.”
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/florida-children-test-positive-coronavirus_n_5f105ac8c5b6d14c3363e65f
Mike Cocchiola says
It’s not about the students. It’s about Trump mini-me Destantis. DeSantis is trying to create a false sense of normalcy in Florida to increase Trump’s chance of taking the state’s electoral votes. They (both Trump and DeSantis) are quite willing to risk the lives of students, teachers and school staff to win in November. It is disgusting and criminally disingeneous.
Unfortunately, the school board lacks the courage to stand up for the safety of our schools. The majority follow their political leaders and their cultural imperitives. And while they may understand the medical risks of prematurely opening the schools, the political risks of challenging their leaders are more frightful.
We need new leadership on the Flagler County School Board. We need leadership that is focused on a premier education system. One that represents the best interests of students, teachers and school staff.
So now we have to rely upon the good sense and professionalism of our new school superintendant. Let’s hope she make the right decisions. Meantime, parents, teachers and staff should let their voices be heard. They must be completely satisfied that our schools are safe before we open them up in the middle of this growing pandemic threat.
Jr says
Do you think any of these politicians give a dam,they’re well taken care of,2 things they care for is money and votes
Shark says
That’s what happens when you have a t-rump lackey for governor !!!!
Denali says
All the words have been said, it’s simple, either you care about your fellow passengers on this rock circling the sun or you do not. If you do not, stay home so the rest of us can try to make the best of this mess that Trump and DeSantis have dealt us.
REAL MEN WEAR MASKS
Sherry says
Right On Denali! It’s those who refuse to wear masks that should stay home. . . certainly not the other way around. Don’t worry, we who wear masks will get our country moving back towards normal again. Apparently, with no help from impeached, corrupt trump, or his puppet DeSantis, or the partisan idiots on the BOCC!
J says
If masks work and you always wear one, why are you so worried about a few people who refuse to wear one?
mark101 says
Well you were doing OK, until you noted impeached, Trumpo was acquitted . But he and his gang of worthless Gov’s who fail to understand the science behind this virus and why opening too soon hurt all states shows a lack of understanding and overall greed to make some $$. DeSantis, has dug such a deep hole in is inability to act and place mandates in place to aid in the prevention to curtail the spread of this virus, he will be a one shot Gov. Trump is out also. The CA Gov, a Democrat drank the cool aid as well.
Ron says
I agree. If you do not want to wear face protection stay home. I am a Republican but I do have common sense. This is a world wide pandemic. I have cancel all my vacation this year and into next. I am hopeful that a vaccine will be develop. Our County Commissioners need to put common sense ahead of politics. While your at it close down the vacation rentals in the county. This was done in Miami. Tourism is the cause of most of these increases. Encouraging large gatherings.
We have a large vacation rental operation in the Hammock that thinks they are a Resort. It is called The Hammock Beach Club. Now they are encouraging members to attend social mixers. But I would bet that their management leaders would not attend with their families. The county needs to close this facility now before it is to late.
Rick says
We are led in this County by a bunch of idiots. To start with. Bars are open on Rt-2, helping spread Covid-19, the County is loaded with callous individuals not wearing masks in stores, etc. Nor following social distancing, compound all, with an administration failing to require the wearing of masks in public, and a Sheriff who comments “We are not going to be the mask police” well that might mean the dirty word ‘Work’ for the Sheriffs Dept. Just watch the motorcycle racing on Belle Terre and Royal Palm on Fri. Sat. and Sunday nights, not to mention the speeding 24/7 all days of the week. So why do we have Bars open in Bunnell on Rt-1 and the lack of mask wearing and social distancing as the Covid 19 numbers are heading for the sky in this small County, endangering all the people of Flagler County, Solution: TERMINATE THOSE OF THE EXISTING ADMINISTRATION INCLUDING THE USELESS SHERIFF – AND PUT RESPONSIBLE PEOPLE IN PLACE, IF WE WAIT TILL THE ELECTION CYCLE, FLAGLER COUNTY MAY BE DESCIMATED – WE MAY NEED TO START PROTESTING IMMEDIATLY
PLEASE FELLOW FLAGER COUNTY RESIDENTS, LETS TAKE BACK OUR COUNTY FROM THE CALLEOUS IDIOTS !
Trailer Bob says
I do hope you all realize that there are professional people in the Country who are working on this. Trump can say what he likes, but HE is not totally responsible for the spread. Everyone who is anyone in science is on this. There are many differences in many areas in many different countries right now. And so far, no one really understands why some get more cases than others. We have to do what WE feel is right. I have a feeling that no matter who was President, we would be in a similar situation, as we really don’t know much about how it is spreading or anything else about this virus. Bashing others is not the answer, but wearing protection and being considerate to our fellow humans may be all we have right now.
Jane GentileYoud says
When I was younger seat belts weren’t ‘mandatory’.
We smokers could smoke at our desks, in public building hallways ( except chambers) on planes, anywhere we wanted. Well these 2 mandates: Mandatory Seat Belt and Mandatory No Smoking have probably 2 of the main reasons I am alive today. Survived a head on crash , as a passenger, because I was wearing a seat belt. I got sick and tired of not being able to smoke where I wanted that I gave it up 11s years ago. Thank God – I would be dead otherwise – I stopped before my lungs got below the already dangerous 34% level they are now. I still suffer after affects including my heart ( ask Flagler County Fire Rescue). I only wish that the no smoking mandates were made when I was young …
Life is much to precious for me to not wear a mask in this very frightening previously unknown pandemic we are living through and frankly I don’t give a damn about anyone who claims that they have the right to not give a damn about their fellow man
Wear a mask or stay home- the virus is bi-partisan- it does not have a political party.
Trailer Bob says
There are many reasonable and effective comments here, then comes the Trump crap. Please, can we just concentrate on the issue at hand and stop with the depressing and annoying political crap?
We have elected officials in our county that are supposed to represent and work for us. We elected them and they have a responsibility to respond to our needs.
It is up to the Governor whether or not face masks and/or face shields become mandatory in public. I think they should be, but regardless, I wear a shield in public, at the minimum.
Regardless of what you or I think of Trump, it gets to be tired after a while on the rest of us.
When Mullins is up for re-election in several years you can vote him out…hell, you can even vote me in to replace him if you want a mature adult with a functioning brain to represent our county.
But PLEASE get the politics out of it, as it is not election time right now. What it IS, is the time for the sane people to stay safe, be kind, wear the stupid mask or shields when in public, and be kind to your fellow Flaglerites.
It’s another beautiful day and if you are reading this you are alive. All the political garbage does is stress everyone out, and we DO NOT need anymore stress right now. Be adults and take care of yourselves and you neighbors, loved ones, and even strangers.
My only real discontent is that I do not totally believe in the accuracy of the testing results, as much of them result from flawed statistics. Peace out.
Sherry says
Absolutely.. . . . trump should be brought into this! As his supporters always say, he was elected president (not by popular vote but by the electoral college). . . “get over it”! The office of the president of the United States is where the “buck stops”. trump has absolutely FAILED to LEAD! FAILED to keep us safe! He has the blood of thousands on his hands!!! All he wants to do is play to his base and distract us from the FACTS regarding those needlessly suffering and dying around us!
trump’s puppet, DeSantis, is also to blame for needless pain and suffering here in Florida. Too many people are completely “mindless” and complacent, at this point. We need LEADERSHIP. . . . that stems from MEDICAL EXPERTISE and FACTS. . . at every level of government to help us survive this lethal pandemic.
deb says
Spot on, but ! “Too many people are completely “mindless” and complacent” and its not all Republicans as you intend, I know a lot of good Democratics, that will not and refuse to wear a face mask and they party hardy and could give a crap about social distancing. Why, because they feel its against their social values and do not want to be told what to do. Its not about a party or parties its about people doing the right thing to support their follow citizen. Sometimes you just can’t fix disrespectful and inconsiderate people. Case in point from a Democatic run state CA: https://www.kron4.com/news/california/we-opened-up-too-soon-how-california-went-from-bending-the-curve-to-coronavirus-hot-spot/. People just don’t want to follow the rules.