Okaloosa's COVID-19 ICU beds on the rise, deaths, as pandemic continues

Destin Log - 2/5/2021

Feb. 6—FORT WALTON BEACH — In the 257 days between March 4 and Nov. 15, 2020 Okaloosa County lost 139 people to the COVID-19 virus. It lost 147 more in the 77 days between Nov. 16 and Jan. 31.

Those grim statistics come courtesy of Dr. Karen Chapman, the director of the Florida Department of Health in Okaloosa County. Chapman on Thursday issued her first report to county officials since Nov. 16. She has been on a leave of absence after being injured in a fall.

Chapman once again admonished county residents for failing to take the precautions necessary to prevent spread of the disease. "Okaloosa County continues to experience a community wide outbreak of COVID-19," she reported.

During the last two months, the county has seen the highest disease burden since the start of the pandemic. The previous high seven day average resident case count was 68 cases per day, Chapman reported. For the last two months the average case count has increased to 122.

The outbreak has led to increased COVID-19 hospitalizations from 43 per day in November to 58 between Jan. 11 and 24. ICU beds occupied by COVID-19 patients has also increased from an average of 11 in November to 13 in January.

"Utilization of ICU beds has increased over the last four weeks and remains steady with no signs of decrease," she said.

Okaloosa's continuing outbreak comes as new variants of the novel coronavirus have made their way into Florida and this region. Chapman reported that the UK variant, thought to be more easily spread and deadlier than the original COVID-19, has been identified in 182 people in 22 Florida counties, including one, unidentified, Northwest Florida county.

"While I know many in Okaloosa have spurned these (personal protection) recommendations, if you are going to change your mind now is the time to do that," Chapman wrote. "If the variants get ahead of us, meaning that they mutate to such a degree that current vaccines are significantly less effective, than the pandemic and its impact on our daily lives and our economy could continue for some time to come."

Chapman also reported that 137 county deaths, or just under 50%, have occurred among residents or staff of long-term care facilities or nursing homes. And while 83% of residents of those facilities have opted for the vaccine, she reported "uptake of the vaccine by long-term facility staff was dismal."

"Only 44% of staff took a first dose and only two facilities had 80% or more accept the vaccine," Chapman said. "There was one facility in which no one on the staff accepted the vaccine."

Chapman said that as of Friday, the county's Health Department would be announcing vaccine appointments at noon every Friday, and open online and over the phone reservations at noon on each following Tuesday.

This move "will hopefully improve expectations and communication with the public," she said.

She said that 11,836 individuals aged 65 or older have received COVID-19 vaccinations, a number that corresponds to about 36% of the total population for that age group. Of the vaccines administered, 10,793 have been first doses and 1,043 second doses.

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