The Veterans Affairs office confirms the James A. Haley Veterans Hospital in Tampa is treating the first Florida case of a patient with the omicron variant of coronavirus.”We can confirm detection of a case of the omicron variant. The patient is experiencing mild symptoms and had recently returned from international travel. Our providers were able to quickly detect, test, confirm and add this data to our developing understanding of this strain,” spokeswoman Kimberly Antos said to WESH 2.It is not known if the patient was vaccinated.The news surfaced as Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis was holding a news conference in neighboring Pinellas County vowing yet again not to allow this new strain to revive debate over vaccine and mask mandates which were outlawed during last month’s special session.”We won’t let them lock you down. We won’t let them restrict you. We’re not going to let them impose mandates. We’re not going to let them close the schools. We’re going to protect your freedom to make your decisions,” DeSantis said at a news conference last month in Brandon, Florida. Clearly, the omicron variant has people coming to the Orange County COVID-19 vaccination and testing site at Barnett Park concerned. The numbers here are growing again.”The uptick has been to get tested and to get vaccinated. I think everybody is taking it very, very seriously and are going to get their vaccines or their boosters,” said Jessica Monterrey, site manager.On Nov. 15, the site handled 741 COVID-19 tests and 58 vaccinations.The number of tests was roughly the same on Monday, Dec. 7, but the number of daily vaccinations has grown sharply to 130.People we talked with said the omicron variant prompted them to come out.”That’s actually why I’m out here today I think. Because the first J&J shot isn’t as effective as the Pfizer or Moderna so I decided I better get a booster,” Cindy Dulmage said.You don’t need an appointment at Barnett Park for either a vaccination or testing. It’s open seven days a week from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. with an emphasis on vaccination of children on weekends.
ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. —
The Veterans Affairs office confirms the James A. Haley Veterans Hospital in Tampa is treating the first Florida case of a patient with the omicron variant of coronavirus.
“We can confirm detection of a case of the omicron variant. The patient is experiencing mild symptoms and had recently returned from international travel. Our providers were able to quickly detect, test, confirm and add this data to our developing understanding of this strain,” spokeswoman Kimberly Antos said to WESH 2.
It is not known if the patient was vaccinated.
The news surfaced as Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis was holding a news conference in neighboring Pinellas County vowing yet again not to allow this new strain to revive debate over vaccine and mask mandates which were outlawed during last month’s special session.
“We won’t let them lock you down. We won’t let them restrict you. We’re not going to let them impose mandates. We’re not going to let them close the schools. We’re going to protect your freedom to make your decisions,” DeSantis said at a news conference last month in Brandon, Florida.
Clearly, the omicron variant has people coming to the Orange County COVID-19 vaccination and testing site at Barnett Park concerned. The numbers here are growing again.
“The uptick has been to get tested and to get vaccinated. I think everybody is taking it very, very seriously and are going to get their vaccines or their boosters,” said Jessica Monterrey, site manager.
On Nov. 15, the site handled 741 COVID-19 tests and 58 vaccinations.
The number of tests was roughly the same on Monday, Dec. 7, but the number of daily vaccinations has grown sharply to 130.
People we talked with said the omicron variant prompted them to come out.
“That’s actually why I’m out here today I think. Because the first J&J shot isn’t as effective as the Pfizer or Moderna so I decided I better get a booster,” Cindy Dulmage said.
You don’t need an appointment at Barnett Park for either a vaccination or testing. It’s open seven days a week from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. with an emphasis on vaccination of children on weekends.