Local doctor reports ‘highest volume’ of COVID-positive patients compared to the peak of last year

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The highly contagious Delta variant of COVID-19 continues to spread at a rapid rate.

Doctors in Northeast Florida are reporting massive spikes in COVID-19 cases.

Dr. Saman Soleymani, president and CEO of Avecina Medical, says all three locations in Jacksonville are seeing record numbers of patients and testing them like they were at the height of the pandemic.

”Over the last ten days, we are seeing some of the highest volume of COVID-positive patients even compared to the peak of last year,” Soleymani said.

Soleymani says Avecina consistently saw around 100 to 130 patients a day in 2020, with about 12 percent of them testing positive for COVID-19. Now, he says, Avecina is seeing 150 to 160 patients a day, and of them, more than a quarter are testing positive.

Northeast Florida reflects that trend.

The CDC’s COVID data tracker puts almost the entire state of Florida under a “high transmission level” status. That includes all Action News Jax’s local counties.The data from the CDC shows Duval County with a 52 percent increase in COVID cases in the past week, and a 54 percent increase in hospitalizations. Clay County shows a 69 percent increase in COVID cases in the past week, and a 97 percent increase in hospitalizations. Nassau County shows a 45 percent increase in COVID cases in the past week, and a 100 percent increase in hospitalizations.St Johns County shows a 37 percent increase in COVID cases in the past week, and a 53 percent increase in hospitalizations.Baker County shows a 57 percent increase in COVID cases in the past week, and a 0 percent increase in hospitalizations.Columbia County shows a 113 percent increase in COVID cases in the past week, and a 220 percent increase in hospitalizations.Flagler County shows a 52 percent increase in COVID cases in the past week, and a 120 percent increase in hospitalizations.Putnam County shows a 3.7 percent increase in COVID cases in the past week, and an 80 percent increase in hospitalizations.Soleymani says it’s not surprising that even vaccinated patients are catching the virus, as the vaccines are not as effective against the Delta variant, with the efficacy rate in the 80th percentile.”It’s not discriminating whether you’re vaccinated or unvaccinated. Now, vaccinated patients are less sick, the vaccinated patients are not being hospitalized, but even the vaccinated patients need to take precautions,” he said.Still, Soleymani urges people to get their shots.Avecina Medical still offers rapid testing. Here are its three Jacksonville-area locations:4160 Southside Blvd., #109580 Applecross Rd., #1061633 Race Track Rd.

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