Orange County leaders want a 50% vaccination rate before relaxing the mask mandate

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings said he wants 50 percent of people in the county to be vaccinated before there are any thoughts about relaxing the mask mandate.

According to the Florida Department of Health, more than 481,000 people have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine in Orange County and more than 290,000 people have completed their vaccine series.

The mayor wants more people to sign up for a vaccination appointment.

[The goal] is to get the shots in as many arms as possible, ”said Demings.

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Demings said 29.73% of Orange County residents have received at least one dose of the vaccine and he said 53.5% of people 40 and older have received at least one injection.

The goal of the herd immunity is to vaccinate about 80% of the provincial population.

Demings said he will work with the Department of Health to work on a phasing plan for mask mandates.

“It will probably be several months before you can see a significant reduction in facial coverage,” said Demings.

According to Demings, there is a chance of an earlier or later timetable.

Demings said you’ll see social distance requirements for Orange County residents relaxed before a mask mandate is relaxed.

Anyone 16 and older is eligible for the vaccine in Orange County.

Anyone who is 16 or 17 must have a parent or guardian with them.

Orange County posted a list of vaccine sites at this link, there are 120 sites in the county.

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“The convention center is fast and easy. You don’t even have to get out of your car, ”said Demings.

Demings added that there are plenty of appointments available at the Orange County Convention Center.

The province has offered 17,000 appointments for this week, 11,000 appointments from Monday 5 pm are still available.

The 14-day rolling rate of positive tests for COVID-19 in Orange County is 7.6, it was about 5% in March.

The DOH reports that more than 130,000 people have tested positive for COVID-19 as of March 2020.

Health officials report that 2,685 people were hospitalized by COVID-19 in Orange County and 1,228 people died from the virus.

According to Demings, the number of hospital admissions has increased slightly, the Orange County leader discussed the number with health leaders.

“They weren’t at the level where they were very concerned about it, but they’re watching it,” Demings said.