The Delta Variant now accounts for over 93% of the new COVID cases in Palm Beach County. During the height of the pandemic in January of this year, PBC was experiencing approximately 6,000 new cases of COVID-19 per week. The Delta Variant, or “COVID 2.0” as I like to refer to it, is currently producing approximately 9,000 cases per week. Our daily lab positivity rate in PBC as of yesterday was 17.8%. To this end, the likelihood of contracting or carrying the Delta Variant, even if vaccinated, is high. Although, fortunately, most reported cases of the Delta Variant have resulted in mild to moderate symptoms, please continue to take the appropriate precautions and measures to keep you and your loved ones safe. The PBC Emergency Operations Center (EOC) remains at Level III Activation (Enhanced Monitoring) as they continue to evaluate the threat and effects of this strain as the Delta Variant is highly transmissible. The County has also declared a Local State of Emergency to streamline any future procurement or funding needs from the State and Federal governments. To help combat the proliferation and effects of the virus, the County has re-established testing sites and some vaccination capabilities. Our closest testing site is in Palm Beach Gardens at the Gardens Branch of the PBC Libraries - 11303 Campus Drive, off PGA Blvd. This site offers drive-through testing (PCR “Nasal Swab” and Rapid Test). The testing is free, however, where available insurance or Medicare / Medicaid programs will be billed to help offset the cost of testing.
The State has established a monoclonal antibody therapy treatment site at the Westgate Park and Recreation Center in West Palm Beach. This site has the capacity to serve 300 patients per day and will be open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The new site is located at: Westgate Park and Recreation Center - 3691 Oswego Ave. - West Palm Beach, Florida 33409.
The Wells Recreation Center is reportedly going to be offering some COVID-Related testing and treatment services in the very near future. We will disseminate that information as it is received.
As always, please reach out with questions or if we can be of any assistance. tsteedman@pbsfire.org or (561) 296-3380
