Answering your COVID-19 questions: Masks in schools, traveling for Labor Day

The worst may well be behind us.

After fast growth of COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations over the ultimate two months throughout Florida, each figures have trended down over the past week, signaling the location has probably peaked within the delta variant wave.

Orange County's positivity expense fell to 13.four% closing week, down from 18.three% two weeks prior, based on Florida department of fitness information. Statewide the positivity rate fell from 17.1% to 15.2% final week. Three weeks in the past 20.3% of checks were fine, the peak of the surge.

the world health company says a cost of 5% or reduce is a sign transmission is below handle.

"We're getting there, however we're now not there yet," talked about Dr. Jay Wolfson, a public fitness professor at the school of South Florida.

Hospitalizations have also viewed constant decreases from record highs statewide in August of 16,937 down to 14,279 Thursday. whereas AdventHealth, crucial Florida's greatest clinic equipment, had a census of 1,330 Thursday down about 300 from two weeks ago.

"at this time we're seeing very encouraging trends. Our hospitalizations have dropped dramatically," spoke of Florida health facility affiliation CEO Mary Mayhew on MSNBC's Morning Joe this week. "There are indications we now have peaked and are heading within the right route."

however even with these decreases, health facility programs continue to be strained with greater sufferers in ICU than beds available, stated Dr. Vincent Hsu this week, the sanatorium's epidemiologist. on account of a surge of deaths, area hospitals have brought in refrigerated cellular morgues.

also, residents of Orlando and wintry weather Park are still being advised to preserve water by way of no longer the usage of irrigation programs, washing cars or different non-essential activities, on account that the cities clear water with liquid oxygen, which is also utilized in treating hospitalized sufferers.

As imperative Florida hopes it's coming into the downslope of the delta wave, right here's some answers to questions posed by way of Orlando Sentinel readers, and what we know to date. we are able to proceed to prove updates as they develop into accessible and as abilities and suggestions evolve.

not precisely, though there are some warning signs that hint on the painful weeks forward.

Dr. Raul Pino, the state health officer for Orange County, has talked about as a minimum 50% of individuals in ICU beds with COVID-19 will die from the virus. by way of Thursday, Orlando fitness mentioned 107 sufferers in ICU. AdventHealth hasn't talked about what number of americans are in ICU, although continues they're full.

while projections from a mannequin by the university of South Florida's Dr. Edwin Michael predicted the top of deaths per day statewide would top at about 330 around Sept. 14, Florida presently leads all states with an average of 263 deaths per day during the last two weeks. That's a ninety% boost over that timeframe, in line with facts compiled through the big apple times.

Already, Orange County has bought experiences of more than 200 individuals useless with the virus in August, making it the third deadliest month of the pandemic. however extra deaths are expected to be stated for August, which may make it the deadliest, Pino said. The deadliest month thus far became January, the place 229 people died.

Orange: A mask mandate is in vicinity other than students with a clinical exemption.

Osceola: Masks are mandated for roughly two greater weeks for elementary and middle school college students. high college students aren't required because they're eligible for vaccination. The district considered implementing a extra sweeping mandate this week, nonetheless it become voted down.

Seminole: Masks are required but fogeys can exempt their infants. Roughly 17% of the district's college students have opted now not to put on masks.

Lake: Masks are optional, however the superintendent has proposed a plan to require masks at schools with a 5% positivity rate or greater. The faculty Board hasn't made a choice on it yet.

Districts were emboldened to give a boost to their masking policies after Leon County Circuit judge John Cooper ruled that Gov. Ron DeSantis' ban on such rules turned into unconstitutional.

Even previous to his ruling, some districts, including Orange's, enacted mandates under hazard of the state withholding salaries of faculty board members and superintendents who enforce them.

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an everyday replace on the coronavirus disaster in Florida.

The state appealed the ruling.

Dr. Rochelle Walensky, the director of the centers for disorder manage and Prevention, observed unvaccinated americans shouldn't trip this weekend with transmission nonetheless sky-high. Walensky pointed out wholly vaccinated americans who put on masks can go back and forth safely.

Wolfson, the USF professor, talked about he'd propose americans to be careful.

"Use average sense," he stated. "The widely wide-spread rule for the short-time period future is only be careful."

put up questions of your own at vaccinequestions@orlandosentinel.com

rygillespie@orlandosentinel.com