TAMPA, Fla. — The White House is warning Florida about the seriousness of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In the most recent report, it says Florida is in the "red zone" for cases.
That indicates 101 or more new cases per 100,000 people -- with the 31st highest rate in the country. Florida is also in the yellow zone for test positivity, with a rate between 5 percent and 7.99 percent -- the 33rd highest rate in the country.
This report is sent to Gov. Ron DeSantis's office from the White House Coronavirus Task Force, led by Vice President Mike Pence.
The latest report came on Oct. 25. It also broke down three counties with the highest numbers of new cases over the last three weeks: Miami-Dade, Broward and Hillsborough. These represent 31.1 percent of new cases in our state.
It says 57 percent of all counties have moderate or high levels of community transmission, with 7 percent having high levels.
The White House also gave 12 recommendations in its latest report.
It says there continues to be an increase in cases, a slight increase in test positivity and no decline in week-over-week new hospital admissions.
These, taken with the continued increase in the percent of long-term care facilities with a positive staff member, suggest the early signals of expanding community spread that should be immediately addressed.
It says that Florida should immediately expand mitigation in counties with rising cases and hospitalizations. Mitigation should include mask-wearing, physical distancing, hand hygiene, avoiding crowds and social gatherings in private and ensuring flu immunizations.
10 Tampa asked the governor's office for comment on the latest report and how it is implementing these recommendations. We have not yet heard back.
You can see the report here (scroll to page 11 for the most recent report):
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