Covid-19 Pandemic Notes from Tri-counties: Palm Beach, Broward and Miami Dade of Florida Andy Aleman OMS-I, College of Osteopathic Medicine

Objective. This study was conducted to evaluate how SARS-CoV-2 has spread through the South Florida Tri-County areas of Palm Beach, Broward, and Miami Dade. Background. We are dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic due to SARS-CoV-2. The Covid-19 situation in Palm Beach, Broward, and Miami-Dade Counties accounts ~50% of total cases from Florida, USA. Methods. For this study data on Covid-19 of South Florida was gathered since the first cases were reported in March-2020. This information was used to calculate infection fatality rate (IFR) and evaluate the disease status. Results. On May 26, 2020, the state of Florida reported an estimate of 51,746 positive cases, and 50% of which were found in the most populated tri counties. Data from May-July shows increase in positive cases and deaths. However, in July number, of cases increased tremendously but the IFR was significantly low. A slight decrease in IFR of Broward and Palm Beach could be due to multiple reasons. The median ages of the populations were Miami-Dade 48, Broward 47, and Palm Beach 45. Conclusion. The number of IFR did not increase steeply in all three counties. We speculate that it could be due morphing of the original SarsCoV2 into a less severe form. In addition, it is possible that the population in South Florida is perhaps, more immune compared to other populations. It is also possible that the hospital health care system and the overall hygiene is far too better in the tri counties compared to countries with poor sanitation.