Amid steady declines in rates of positive COVID-19 tests, hospitalizations, cases in assisted living facilities and other key metrics, Orange leaders expressed optimism the county was in good shape after a spike in previous weeks.
Also, the county has vaccinated about half of its senior population with at least one dose of the vaccine to prevent further infections. But restrictions shouldn’t be loosened, said Dr. Raul Pino, the local state health officer, or the region could again slip.
“I have to say, the county is in very good shape,” he said. “That doesn’t mean we have to in any form or shape, relax what we’re doing.”
Pino said there are 170 ICU beds available in the county, while about 5.49% of tests have returned positive for the virus over the past two weeks, a number that continues to trend lower.
His analysis Monday comes as vaccine efforts are about to increase in the coming days: Federally-run sites are expected to pour more shots into the region and Gov. Ron DeSantis ordered that teachers, law enforcement and firefighters over 50 can be inoculated, along with those deemed extremely vulnerable to the virus.
Also, federal officials approved use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which while less effective than Pfizer and Moderna cocktails, can be stored more easily and only requires one dosage. The shot could begin pouring into the county this week, but Pino said the state-run Orange County Convention Center wasn’t slated to receive them.
“I think what the state is doing is actually wise by going by age,” said Pino, who said opening up too quickly could overwhelm systems.
But the loosened restrictions still means thousands more are eligible, including more than 9,500 Orange County Public Schools teachers, a spokesman said.
Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings noted that with March beginning Monday, the county had been in the throes of the pandemic for nearly a year, but expressed confidence the region would emerge strong.
“Herd immunity is our goal, which is nearly 80% of our population,” Demings said.
With CPAC in town over the weekend, bringing throngs of conservative voters and politicians to Hyatt Regency on International Drive – capped with a speech from former President Donald Trump Sunday evening – county compliance teams visited Friday and found hotel employees trying to encourage safe protocols.
The hotel, which submitted a COVID safety plan to the county for review, received a vote of confidence from health teams despite spotty mask-wearing by conventioneers.
“They found that the hotel was making every effort to make sure their guests were following their countywide facial covering order,” Demings said. “However, we know that some of the attendees were non-compliant.”
rygillespie@orlandosentinel.com, shudak@orlandosentinel.com
