PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. —The number of coronavirus cases is spiking in Florida, and particularly among millennials in the Tampa and St. Petersburg area.
What You Need To Know
- Millennials have seen the biggest spike of coronavirus cases
- The spike seems to be like to Florida’s reopening
- Data lags about two weeks; unknown what numbers will look like after protests
In Hillsborough County, 604 cases of the coronavirus have been reported among people between the ages of 25 to 34 and in Pinellas County 340 have tested positive in that same age group.
Millennials, based on data from the State of Florida, make-up more than 16 percent of all reported cases statewide.
The spike in numbers locally had St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman and the Hillsborough County Emergency Policy Group this week issuing a warning to young adults concerning social distancing and the use of face masks.
"All of you millennials that thought you were immune to this virus … you were wrong," said Kriseman.
Adults age 25 to 34 have seen the biggest spike in the number of the coronavirus cases since Florida's reopen push began last month.
Making matters more complex for the spread of the coronavirus, Pinellas County now says it has an outbreak in its jail.
In the past two days, the sheriff's office reported 20 positive tests among inmates and jail workers.
Sheriff Bob Gualtieri says for that reason, only a limited amount of those arrested will likely be brought to jail, including those arrested for domestic violence or others who pose a threat to public safety.
"We unfortunately now have a big problem with the jail. The last 48 hours, we probably got about 20 people, a mix of inmates and staff who have tested positive," Gualtieri said. “We're getting a plan together. We're going to have to make significant changes out there. We probably have to stop letting people in, but we have an issue. "
Aside from a spike in the coronavirus cases among young adults, data lags around two weeks behind. It is not yet known if widespread demonstrations over the death of George Floyd, a handcuffed black man who was killed after a white police officer had his knee on his throat, will spike the numbers further.
That data should start showing up in the state's official count sometime next week.
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