COVID-19 Updates

Suncoast Community Health Centers Inc. and COVID-19
All 10 Suncoast Community Health Centers locations including Dental and Mobile buses are open and operating under normal business hours Monday - Friday.
Suncoast Community Health Centers is not charging patients for COVID-19 tests.
For more information, please call at 813.653.6100

COVID-19 Updates
"CDC urges COVID vaccines during pregnancy as delta surges"

click here for information

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LETTER TO COMMUNITY FROM SCHC CEO 08/30/21 (CLICK HERE)

LETTER TO COMMUNITY FROM SCHC CEO 08/30/21 SPANISH (CLICK HERE)
Governor Ron DeSantis has signed Executive Order
Which outlines that providers can only administer the COVID-19 vaccine to the following groups:
- COVID-19 Vaccination is open to all adult 18 and up.
  Moderna
  Pfizer
- COVID-19 Vaccination is open to ages 12 and up.
  Pfizer
Suncoast community Health Centers is offering the COVID-19 Vaccine to our established patients who are eligible under the guidelines set forth by the Governor of Florida. If you haven’t scheduled your appointment. Please call 813.653.6100 to get scheduled and/or have your questions answered.

Latest Update from the Department of Health

Case Information

The 7-day moving average has increased significantly and is now 1,103 new cases identified daily
- The percent positivity rate has increased to 20.36%
- The highest rates are in the 25-34 year age group with noticeable increases in the school age year groups
The case rate per 100,000 is the highest that we have seen with 74 cases per 100,000. This is the highest that we have seen since the Pandemic began
The rate of infection still remains high and is currently at 1.1. Any rating above “1” means the outbreak is growing and one person is infecting more than one other person
- It should be noted that School is starting soon and we are expecting to see a rise in cases in the next 2-4 weeks as the schools begin to open
These trends are consistent throughout the Tampa Bay Region as well as the State

Medical System - All hospitals are seeing a significant increase in COVID cases and are implementing surge plans. The numbers of admissions are at levels that were seen in the previous two waves (Jul/Jan). The primary difference is with the age groups being admitted.

Most admissions are non-vaccinated from the 25-34 year old group
Also seeing a rise in children being admitted
All facilities are facing staffing shortages
Facilities have begun implementing surge plans
- Several facilities are cancelling elective surgeries
- Several facilities are implementing visitor restrictions

Vaccinations

1^st dose vaccines have seen an increase in demand since 7/7/2021
Targeted Vaccine Areas (TVAs) have had a significant increase in requests for business and faith based organizational requests. However, at these locations the number of vaccines being administered remains low when compared to the number of eligible unvaccinated at these organizations
Private providers can now order vaccine directly through FLSHOTS for Pfizer. The minimum order is 1 tray (450 or 1170). Orders less than these amounts can be filled by the health department. We expect providers can order Moderna and J & J in the near future.

Testing

Demand for testing has continued to grow
Currently the pharmacies, UCCs, etc are meeting the demand however appointment availability at some locations are same day and others can be 2-3 days
The county is currently working to open up two sites for a period of 30 days. We hope to have these sites up and running later this week

Ryan Pedigo

Office of Public Health Preparedness

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For Immediate Release
Media Contact:
Communications & Digital Media for Joint Information Center
(813) 277-1600

Hillsborough County to Temporarily Resume
COVID-19 Testing Operations
COVID-19 Coronavirus Update No 321

Hillsborough County, Fla. (Aug. 3, 2021) – With COVID-19 cases increasing due to the Delta variant, Hillsborough County will temporarily open two free public testing sites.

These walk-in locations will open on Saturday, Aug. 7. They will be open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Palm River Park Community Center, 725 S. 58th St. in Tampa
1101 E. 139th Ave. in Tampa

All testing will be conducted indoors. Five-hundred tests per day will be available at each site on a first-come, first-serve basis. Rapid tests will be administered; PCR tests will be available upon request. Appointments are not needed.

There is no charge to be tested. In accordance with federal guidelines, health insurance information will be collected; however, individuals who do not have health insurance will still be tested.

People being tested should bring a photo ID (driver’s license, state-issued ID, or passport) with name and date of birth, as well as their health insurance card (if applicable). Face coverings will be required except during the brief time when the sampling is done.

While there are many private COVID-19 testing locations available in Hillsborough County, the County is opening the two temporary sites out of an abundance of caution and to enhance community testing capabilities. The number of positive cases in Hillsborough County has been increasing in recent weeks, and some residents are reporting wait times of up to three days to be tested.

For information, go to HCFLGov.net/COVIDTesting. Residents without digital access may call (813) 272-5900, the County's main information line. For other testing options, go to FloridaHealthCOVID19.gov/testing-sites.

People who are experiencing a medical emergency should dial 9-1-1 immediately.

Get Connected. Stay Alert.
For more information on COVID-19, and any other potential emergency in the county, visit HCFLGov.net/StaySafe and sign up for the HCFL Alert system. Additionally, you can follow Hillsborough County on social media at Facebook, Twitter, and Nextdoor for updates. For general County information, call (813) 272-5900, the County’s main information line.