Flagler Hospital, which set a record high of 115 COVID-19 patients Thursday afternoon, remained at 115 on Friday, according to hospital spokeswoman Gina Mangus. The previous record was 108 on Wednesday.
Friday was the third straight day of more than 100 COVID-19 patients.
Mangus reported that 85% of the hospitalized patients are not fully vaccinated.
Fourteen patients were discharged and 14 patients were admitted within the past 24 hours on Friday. The hospital reported that 25 COVID-19 patients are in the ICU, with 12 requiring a ventilator. Flagler has 335 beds and 44 in the ICU.
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Florida reported 22,783 new cases from Thursday, the highest number since the pandemic began, according to a federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report released Friday. The previous record, 21,683 new cases, was set Tuesday. Florida had 20,133 new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday.
The state reported 199 deaths on Thursday.
Florida broke a weekly case record with 134,506 new cases reported from July 30 to Aug. 6, according to the Florida Department of Health’s weekly update. The state’s positivity rate jumped to 18.9%, with St. Johns County at 24.2% for that time period. St. Johns County added 1,740 cases for a total of 29,676.
Hospitals in Florida set a record for the fifth straight day at 13,427 beds in use by COVID-19 patients on Friday, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. This was an increase of 539 over the 12,888 on Thursday.
Flagler Hospital now mandates masks be worn and allows one designated visitor in a patient room during the stay, with some exceptions. COVID-19 patients may not have visitors. Visiting hours remain 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. for Flagler Hospital. For details, visit flaglerhealth.org/covid-19-information.
Masks are being required at The Columbia Restaurant in St. Augustine and the Castillo de San Marcos and the Fort Matanzas national monuments inside the forts and other buildings.
“We are choosing to be proactive for everyone’s health without waiting for a directive from the CDC,” Richard Gonzmart, Columbia Restaurant Group President and CEO recently wrote on the company’s Facebook page.
The city of St. Augustine is encouraging all employees to wear masks in common areas and shared spaces. Unvaccinated city employees are required to wear a mask in shared spaces and common areas, according to a memo from City Manager John Regan.
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While the hospital and other attractions require masks, area schools have said they are optional.
Some parents have tried to persuade the St. Johns County School District to make masks mandatory. Parent Max Martin recently launched a petition on change.org to ask the district to require masks for both students and teachers. It had garnered more than 3,700 signatures early Friday.
Also, the Jacksonville-based Diocese of St. Augustine reversed a planned mask mandate for its 40 Catholic schools in favor of a mask-optional policy. The revised policy “highly recommends” masks. Deacon Scott Conway, superintendent of schools, urged COVID-19 vaccinations.
Flagler College faculty, staff, and students are highly encouraged to be vaccinated for the COVID-19 virus. The college says masks are welcome for everyone, but are recommended for unvaccinated individuals
St. Johns River State College is also encouraging students to get vaccinated and also wear a mask in public indoor settings.
As the number of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations have climbed, more people in St. Johns County are seeking tests.
Here are testing locations available in St. Johns County, according to the county:
CareFast+ at Flagler Hospital campus, 110 Health Park Blvd. St. Augustine 32086. Call 823-3401.
CareFast+ at MuraBella, 70 Turin Terrace, Suite 110, St. Augustine 32092. Call 819-7200.
Florida Department of Health in St. Johns County, St. Johns County Health and Human Services building, 200 San Sebastian View, St. Augustine, 32084. Call 506-6081.
Avecina Medical, Julington Creek branch, 1633 Race Track Road, St. Johns 32259. Call 230-6988.
The Med One Urgent Care, 841 S. Ponce de Leon Blvd. Suite 4, St. Augustine 32084.
CareSpot, 2095 U.S. 1 South, St. Augustine 32086. Call 429-0001.
CareSpot Nocatee, 151 Pine Lake Drive, Suite B, Ponte Vedra Beach, 32081. Call 543-3677.
CareSpot Durbin Park, 70 Durbin Pavilion Drive, Suite 101, St. Johns, 32259. Call 295-0038.
CVS Pharmacy – All locations in St. Johns County. All tests are conducted at the drive-thru. The test is self administered.
Walgreens – All locations in St. Johns County. All tests are conducted through the drive-thru and are self administered.
Ascension St. Vincent’s Health Center, St. Johns. 2001 County Road 210, St. Augustine, 32092. Call 450-8120.
