The increase in coronavirus cases in Florida this week is due to mostly young and healthy individuals testing positive, and the median age of infected individuals has shifted dramatically from 65 to 35, according to data from the Florida Department of Health.
But Gov. Ron DeSantis says he is not concerned about the uptick because most have minimal or zero symptoms.
"I think that we've started to see you know some erosion in the social distancing from probably some of the younger population," DeSantis said, adding in response, "The Department of Health is going to be launching some public service announcements, reminding folks of some of the things that you can do. I mean if you're just a normal, healthy, younger individual doing things like frequent hand washing and sanitation, staying home, social distancing, and wearing a mask."
Of the state's 3,104 fatalities due to COVID-19, 86% are over 65 years old. Florida this week has repeatedly reported thousands of new cases a day and more than 3,800 on Friday.
Dr. Margaret Groensek, an infectious disease specialist at Holy Cross Hospital in Fort Lauderdale, told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel there is more that can be done with the younger population.
"Because younger people arrive at the ER and are not critically ill, the hospital is able to send them home," she said. "They are admitted if they are having trouble breathing. Otherwise, they are sent home to follow up with primary [physicians] or our physicians that follow positive cases."
Solange Reyner ✉
Solange Reyner is a writer and editor for Newsmax. She has more than 15 years in the journalism industry reporting and covering news, sports and politics.
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