LEE COUNTY, FL. — As we continue to recover from the Coronavirus crisis, twenty-four COVID-19 related deaths were reported statewide on Monday.
Eleven of those reported deaths happened in Lee County.
"Based on Monday's numbers, I think we need to look at it more than one day, and kind of see if this is a trend we're seeing or is this kind of a one time spike," said Robert Hawkes, MSPA, PA-C.
Hawkes is the Director of The Physician Assistant Program at Florida Gulf Coast University.
The deaths reported on Monday occurred from May 2 to May 17 — ages range from the 70s to the 90s.
Hawkes says when the deaths take place, the medical examiner's office has to determine what the cause of death is before the death can be reported.
"Many times, people with COVID-19 that are very ill from this may have other comorbidities, be it heart decease, diabetes, or other respiratory conditions. Just because they test positive for COVID-19 does not necessarily mean that's what they've died from," said Hawkes.
As of Tuesday afternoon, no other COVID-19 deaths have been reported in Lee County, but there is an increase of 33 new COVID-19 cases.
Hawkes says this is not a surprise since testing has become readily available.
"I would say at this point let’s keep the numbers in perspective, just because there’s a one day spike does not necessarily mean we have a new trend," said Hawkes.
While Florida's testing has increased over the past week, the percentage of those testing positive for COVID-19 is about 7 percent.
"These may be people who are not showing symptoms, but they just want to get tested, or they have very minor symptoms," said Hawkes.
As of May 17, nearly half of Florida's COVID-19 related deaths are linked to long-term care facilities.
Out of the 901 reported deaths connected to these facilities, Lee County ranks 4th in the state with 58 of those deaths.
"When looking at the data, it'll all depend on how many people are actually being tested for COVID-19 at our long-term care facilities, and then that will obviously correspond to the deaths being reported," said Hawkes.
According to reports from the Florida Department of Health, there are just over 300 hundred confirmed cases in long-term care facilities in Lee County. This number includes residents and staff.
The Florida Department of Health says strike teams will continue to respond to long term care facilities with COVID-19 positive patients.
