Coronavirus cases exploded in Collier County in June. It wasn't just due to more tests.
Dan DeLucaThe theory that warm weather could potentially hinder the spread of the novel coronavirus in balmy Florida collapsed in June.
The Sunshine State's total cases increased by a staggering 171% in June to 152,434 (compared to a 67% growth rate in May) as Florida added more than 96,000 cases. That's more cases than all but six U.S. states have confirmed to date since the pandemic began, according to the CDC's COVID-19 tracker as of July 1.
The spread of COVID-19 in Collier County similarly skyrocketed in June. According to a Naples Daily News analysis of data compiled by the state Department of Health, the county's total case count grew by 175% in June, from 1,539 entering the month to 4,225 reported Tuesday.
More coronavirus testing only a partial impact
Gov. Ron DeSantis has said the recent spike in COVID-19 infections can be explained by an increase in testing, especially among younger adults and high-risk populations. While the state did report more than 924,000 coronavirus tests in June, a 90% increase from the total number of tests reported through May, that amount falls short of the statewide 171% rise in cases.
That's the reason why Florida's overall positivity rate, the percentage of people testing positive for COVID-19 out of all people who have been tested, increased by more than two percentage points in June, from 5.49% at the end of May to 7.83% Tuesday.
According to the state health data, Collier County reported more than 17,000 tests in June, a 101% increase from its cumulative tests through May. Just like Florida, that's substantially less than Collier's 175% rise in cases during June. As a result, Collier's overall positivity rate rose by more than 3 percentage points in June to 9.88% Tuesday, compared to 6.51% at the end of May.
Just like Florida, more younger people are testing positive for COVID-19 in Collier County. The median age for county residents confirmed positive fell from 45 at the start of June to 38 Tuesday.
Prior to June, the most reported cases Collier had on a single day was 72 on May 12. Last month, the county had nine days with 100 or more reported cases, including a record 251 on June 25.
The bulk of those daily spikes came in June's final three weeks. On June 10, the rolling seven-day average for daily positive COVID-19 cases in Collier County was 68.71. On Tuesday, that daily average had jumped to 131.86 cases, an increase of 92%.
Part of Collier's June surge in positive cases can be linked to an outbreak in Immokalee that started in the first half of the month. In total, Immokalee's reported cases jumped from 579 on May 31 to 1,466 Tuesday, an increase of 153%. In comparison, the June increase in positive cases among people who identified as Naples residents was 185%.
WHO's recommendation on positive test rates
On May 12, the World Health Organization advised governments that before reopening and lifting stay-at-home orders, positive test rates for COVID-19 should remain at 5% or lower for at least 14 days.
Florida entered Phase 2 of its reopening on June 5 when the cumulative statewide positivity rate was 5.41%. This allowed, in part, gyms, bars and nightclubs to reopen at 50% capacity and for social gatherings to increase to up to 50 people.
For 10 days the positivity rate remained below 5.41% until rising to 5.48% on June 16. It continued to increase each day for the rest of June.
On June 26, after Florida recorded more than 25,000 cases in a five-day span, the state announced it was suspending on-site consumption of alcohol at bars.
One piece of good news for both Florida and Collier County is that the number of deaths attributed to COVID-19 in June did not approach the explosive rise in cases. Through Tuesday's report, the state added 1,099 resident deaths to the overall coronavirus toll which stood at 3,505, a 45% increase over the total through May. The health department verified 25 COVID-19 deaths of Collier County residents in June to up its total to 74, a 51% increase of the cumulative amount through May.
More:Collier to restrict weekend beach hours, parking starting Fourth of July weekend
Growth of COVID-19 in Collier County
Total cases reported
- May 31: 1,539
- June 30: 4,225
Total deaths reported
- May 31: 49
- June 30: 74
Total hospitalizations reported
- May 31: 202
- June 30: 323
Total tests reported
- May 31: 29,317
- June 30: 56,564
Cumulative percent of people testing positive
- May 31: 9.18%
- June 30: 12.51%
Source: Florida Department of Health
