Health & Fitness
COVID-19 Cases Increase Tenfold In Sarasota County Within 1 Month
1,412 new coronavirus cases were reported in Sarasota County July 23-29. Mayo Clinic tool projects as many as 924 cases daily by Aug. 14.
![1,412 new coronavirus cases were reported in Sarasota County July 23-29. A Mayo Clinic tool projects as many as 924 cases reported daily in the county by Aug. 14.](https://patch.com/img/cdn20/shutterstock/24559556/20210802/011218/styles/patch_image/public/shutterstock-1667113507___02131143386.jpg)
SARASOTA COUNTY, FL — The number of new COVID-19 cases in Sarasota County is 10 times what it was just a month ago, according to date from the Florida Department of Health.
From July 23-29, 1,412 new coronavirus cases were reported in the county, as well as a new case positivity rate of 13.3 percent, according to the COVID-19 Weekly Situation Report.
Just 141 cases were reported in Sarasota County four weeks earlier, for the week of June 25 to July 1, according to the state DOH report for that week. The positivity rate was also much lower that week at 3.5 percent.
Find out what's happening in Sarasotawith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Sarasota County is seeing a high level of community transmission, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention COVID data tracker.
Related Story: Florida Posts Record Number Of New Coronavirus Cases: CDC
Find out what's happening in Sarasotawith free, real-time updates from Patch.
The county saw 1,417 new cases from July 26 to Aug. 1, according to CDC data. The county also recorded a 15.59 percent positivity rate during this period.
That’s a 58.68 percent increase in new cases from the prior week and a 1.77 percent change in the positivity rate based on CDC data.
The CDC said the county had 98 COVID-19 hospitalizations from July 26 to Aug. 1. That’s also a 78.18 percent change from the week before.
This surge in cases is happening statewide thanks to the virus’ more contagious delta variant.
From July 23-29, Florida reported more than 110,477 new cases from July 23-29 and an 18.1 percent new case positivity rate, according to the state DOH.
The state also recorded more than 400 coronavirus deaths during this week.
A month earlier, just 15,978 new cases were reported statewide from June 25 to July 1 with a new case positivity rate of 5.2 percent.
Related Story: Many Patch Readers Concerned About FL's COVID Surge: Survey
And things are likely only going to get worse, according to a COVID-19 map and forecast tool from the Mayo Clinic.
By Aug. 14, the tool projects that Sarasota County could see, on average, 418 new cases each day. The projected range of daily cases is 174 to 924.
Where to Get Tested in Sarasota County
If you’re experiencing coronavirus symptoms or have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, here’s where you can get tested in Sarasota County.
Drive-thru coronavirus testing is available at a state-run site at 5400 Bradenton Road in Sarasota, Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Select pharmacies and other health care facilities in Sarasota County also offer testing including:
- America's Pharmacy
- CVS
- Ellenton Urgent Care
- MCR Health
- Quest Diagnostics
- Sarasota Memorial Urgent Care Centers
- Walgreens
The test is also available through some private physician’s practices.
Where to Get Vaccinated in Sarasota County
The CDC and other health care leaders urge everyone eligible to get vaccinated against COVID-19. As of July 29, more than 278,000 people in Sarasota County — or 69 percent of the eligible population — have been vaccinated.
Here’s where you can get the vaccine in Sarasota County.
The Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson and Johnson vaccines are available at the Department of Health in Sarasota County offices in North Port (6950 Outreach Way) and Sarasota (2200 Ringling Blvd.) Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
A pop-up vaccine clinic is set for Aug. 7, 9:30 a.m. to 1: 30 p.m., at Riverview High School (1 Ram Way, Sarasota). The Pfizer vaccine, which has been authorized for everyone 12 and older, will be given at this event.
Select pharmacies and other health care facilities in Sarasota County also offer testing including:
The vaccine is also available through some private physician’s practices.
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