CAPE CORAL, FLA — More than 6300 COVID-19 cases and almost 300 deaths.
That's where Southwest Florida currently sits, those numbers accounting for about 10 percent of all cases in the state.
"We are in a new normal and the virus will be part of that new normal for many months to come," said Lee Health CEO Larry Antonucci.
And as our state works toward a full reopening, Antonucci and leaders with NCH say they're seeing a spike in new cases, to the tune of about 20-30 new hospitalizations a day for the last two weeks.
But here's why they say you shouldn't be too worried about that.
"This increase in cases was expected as restaurants and businesses reopened. And with the pent up demand for retail services we've seen many people out and about," said Antonucci.
They saw this coming.
NCH is reporting a spike in cases in Immokalee, but they say overall, the number of people in their area who are going to hospital for COVID-19 has remained about the same since the state started reopening.
"The total admitted positive COVID-19 patients averaging the mid-50s daily since may 19," said NCH Chief Nursing Officer, Jon Kling.
Both groups want to remind the public that the best was to keep numbers from spiking higher, is the same thing they've been telling us all along: wash your hands, wear a mask and be socially distant as much as possible.
"These actions are essential to avoid a second wave of COVID-19 that would reverse all of the positive steps forward that we have made as a community," said Antonucci.
