The U.S. Food and Drug Administration will consider follow-up vaccines in a meeting Sept. 17. For now, while full approval is not established, only those who are immunocompromised have access to the boosters at UF Health.
The total number of reported positive cases from students since March 2020 is now 839
Data shows Hispanic and Black vaccination rates lag behind those of white people in most states across the country.
About 90% of all patients hospitalized are unvaccinated.
Preceding the start of classes, UF reported 185 new cases from Aug. 11 to Aug. 17. The campus maintained a 6% seven-day positivity average rate as seen over the past month — an increase from its 1% weekly positivity rates reported early July.
The report from UF biostatisticians predicted the peak would take place over the first three weeks of Fall classes at UF — projecting to reach 33,000 reported cases per day and 220,000 per week in Florida.
Gov. Ron DeSantis’ decision to bar mask mandates in the city could negatively impact Gainesville’s ability to mitigate infections, Hayes-Santos said
Fall classes will take place in person for the start of the semester despite a university-wide email announcing potential online classes for the first three weeks.
Tuesday’s meeting follows the school board's unanimous vote to require masking for at least the first two weeks of school; meanwhile, Gov. Ron DeSantis' executive order allows parents to choose whether their children wear masks to school.
“It’s not a mask mandate,” UF spokesperson Steve Orlando said. “It’s expected, not required.”
UF is unable to disclose data supporting its estimation on student vaccination rates — unions urge answers.
The CDC is recommending some vaccinated people to wear masks again to maximize protection and prevent spreading the Delta variant. As of Tuesday, UF did not provide comment on whether the university will be following the updated guidelines nor respond to questions regarding updates on its masking policies.
The number of COVID-19 patients soared from 14 to 70 patients, and over 10% of the patients are on ventilators. Despite the common belief that the virus is more impactful among the elderly population, the recent COVID-19 patients coming into Shands are younger.
Even as COVID-19 cases surged across Florida, UF’s low case numbers held unwaveringly. Although Florida accounts for about 7% of the U.S. population, it contributed almost 20% of COVID-19 cases nationally over the last seven days, according to the Miami Herald. Meanwhile, UF maintained low positivity rates with three reported positive cases out of 262 tests from July 5 to July 11.
A UF Health Screen, Test and Protect email sent Thursday morning warned students of COVID-19 found in the wastewater around a residence hall or Greek house. The email was sent along with a text alert to students living near Mallory Hall, informing them of traces of COVID-19 detected in the area’s wastewater. The hall is near Sorority Row next to Yulee, Reid and Cypress Hall.
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