BAY HARBOR ISLANDS, FLA. (WSVN) - Officials in Miami-Dade and Broward counties have ramped up efforts to stay one step ahead of the coronavirus as Florida reports a spike in cases over the past several weeks.
On Saturday, Miami-Dade officials announced the opening of five new mobile locations for people to receive the COVID-19 vaccine and get tested for the virus.
In a release, Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava said the county, working with Nomi Health, made the decision to make these opportunities available due to the growing threat of new variants, especially the now dominant Delta variant, as well as increases in positivity rates and hospitalizations.
“We are extremely concerned about this new wave of COVID cases in Miami-Dade. The numbers are very clear: the vast majority of those who end up in the hospital due to COVID are unvaccinated,” said Levine Cava. “We need to go back to the precautions that we are very familiar with — the masking, distancing disinfection, but the most important thing at all is to vaccinate. That is truly our only protection.”
“Please take the Delta variant seriously. This virus has no incentive to let up, and it remains in search of the next vulnerable person to infect,” said Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
On Sunday, Broward County announced two vaccination sites for Broward residents 12 and older: one in Davie and one in North Lauderdale. Both sites are operated by the Florida Department of Health in Broward.
These openings come as the hope for the U.S. to have a so-called return to normalcy from COVID-19 fades fast.
“This is an unnecessary predicament we’re putting ourselves in,” said Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
Unvaccinated Americans reportedly make up a majority of current COVID-related deaths and hospitalizations. Thirty states have yet to get 50% of their residents fully vaccinated, according to the CDC.
“Even if a vaccine does not completely protect against infection, it usually, if it’s successful, protects against serious disease, said Fauci.
“It’s the unvaccinated that are coming into our hospitals, overwhelming our healthcare system,” Levine Cava said. “We need everyone to know they must take the shot.”
Early this week, Miami-Dade officials announced the county’s positivity rates had risen to 8.3% compared to just 3.6% in June.
Levine Cava urged local residents not to let their guard down.
“We also strongly recommend everyone wear masks in large crowds or around those they don’t know to be vaccinated, and get tested if you are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms,” said Levine Cava. “We have come too far and made too much progress to go back now.”
Hospitalizations are also on the rise. Officials at Broward Health Medical Center said the Delta variant is more contagious and is affecting younger, healthier people.
“I would say almost 98.9% are unvaccinated,” said BHMC Chief of Staff Dr. Sunil Kumar.
As summer fades into fall, there’s a push to get more people to roll up their sleeves.
“If you are vaccinated, fully vaccinated, the chance of you getting seriously ill or dying from COVID is effectively zero,” said Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. “If you look at people that are being admitted to hospitals, over 95% are not fully vaccinated or not vaccinated at all, and so, these vaccines are saving lives.”
Miami-Dade officials said the following new mobile vaccination and testing locations opened on Saturday:
Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines are being offered.
Home Depot (Deerwood)
11905 SW 152nd Street, Miami, FL 33177
Open 7 days a week from 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Bay Harbor Islands’ 95th Street Park
1185 95th St., Bay Harbor Islands, FL 33154
Open 7 days a week from 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Haulover Park
13731 Collins Ave, North Miami Beach, FL 33154
Open 7 days a week from 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Sunny Isles Beach Government Center
18070 Collins Ave., Sunny Isles Beach, FL 33160
Open 7 days a week from 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Home Depot (Hialeah)
1590 West 49th Street, Hialeah, FL 33012
Open 7 days a week from 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
To register for vaccinations, click here. To register for testing, click here.
The location for the walk-up sites in Broward as follows:
Nova Southeastern University
7901 SW 36th St., Suite 209, Davie, FL 33328
Open Monday thru Wednesday from noon to 8 p.m., Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
North Lauderdale Community Affairs Center
7765 SW 10th St., North Lauderdale, FL 33068
Open Sundays only from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Both Broward sites only offer the Pfizer vaccine. For more information, click here.
Last week, FDOH reported more than 73,000 new COVID-19 cases in Florida, an increase of more than 17,000 from the week before.
Copyright 2024 Sunbeam Television Corp. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.