MIAMI (WSVN) - State health officials have reported fewer COVID-19 patients in South Florida hospitals and a smaller percentage of people getting positive test results, prompting Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez to say the county is moving in the right direction.
In a video message posted Tuesday morning, Gimenez struck a more hopeful tone than in recent weeks. He confirmed the positivity rate of COVID-19 in the community is going down.
“I’m pleased to announce that it appears that we have leveled off on the coronavirus infections here in Miami-Dade County,” he said.
“I think the trend is positive,” Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said at a news conference.
The more upbeat tone of the leaders’ statement comes as South Florida cities continue to step up measures to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
Tuesday afternoon, Miami Beach officials announced the closure of all basketball courts in city parks, effective immediately. That means all individual or group activity related to basketball, including dribbling or shooting basketballs, is not permitted.
7News cameras captured a basketball court at a park where all the rims have been removed, Tuesday night.
Earlier in the day, the Florida Department of Health officials reported 5,446 new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday. That figure marks the third consecutive day that the state has recorded a single-day total of less than 7,500.
“We have seen the infection rate, or the positivity rate on the exams, the exams that have been given in Miami-Dade has been trending downwards, and that’s a good thing followed by the trending downwards of hospitalizations,” Gimenez said. “The high was 2,200 people in the hospital back on the 21st on July, and yesterday we had somewhere around 1,900, so we have a decrease of about 400 patients.”
Of the new cases reported on Tuesday, 1,115 are in Miami-Dade, 422 are in Broward and 10 are in Monroe. Health officials also reported 245 COVID-related deaths in the past 24 hours, bringing the statewide total to 7,402.
Despite the lower numbers, testing sites across South Florida were closed in preparation for Isaias, and officials said it remains unclear if the closures impacted the numbers.
Starting on Wednesday, rapid testing is expected to become available to a select few at Hard Rock Stadium. It will also be available at Marlins Park, but the exact date remains unclear.
“The tests will be for people that have symptoms or for elderly — 65 or older,” DeSantis said. “You’re gonna be able to go in, get the antigen test, and in 15 minutes, walk out with a result.”
Regular COVID-19 testing will still be available at the sites for others who do not qualify for the rapid tests.
On Tuesday, the state reported a 10.9% positivity rate. Countywide, the rate is 13.7% in Miami-Dade, 10.6% in Broward and 8.1% in Monroe.
The rate in Miami-Dade is a significant improvement when compared to past weeks, but it’s more than double what’s recommended by the World Health Organization.
“Our target is 10, but actually, our real target to try to start to open up again is somewhere around 5, 6% positivity rate,” Gimenez said.
“I think the trend is positive. I think, by the time we get a couple of weeks into the future, I think we’re going to continue to see the prevalence decline, and that will be a very, very good thing,” DeSantis said.
Most state-run testing sites have reopened across South Florida.
Anyone with questions and concerns about the coronavirus can call the Florida Department of Health’s 24-hour hotline at 1-866-779-6121.
Copyright 2024 Sunbeam Television Corp. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.