End in sight: Health Department prepares for COVID-19 to shift from pandemic to endemic

Case numbers and other indicators are trending in the right direction.

By Jonathan Simmons
| 8:00 a.m. February 11, 2022

Stock photo by Gustavo Fring from Pexels.com

Palm Coast Observer
News

The COVID-19 pandemic in Flagler County is fading, with case numbers and hospitalizations dropping.

"Cases are significantly decreasing," Florida Department of Health in Flagler County Health Officer Bob Snyder said on Flagler Broadcasting's "Free For All Friday" program on Jan. 11. "We peaked the week of Jan. 14 — 210 cases per day — and this week, 58 per day. "

Other indicators are also improving.

"Positivity rate, hospital admissions for COVID, school district cases, demand for testing — all trending downward, in the right direction," Snyder said.

There have been no new outbreaks at nursing homes or assisted living facilities, he added, and a total of 78,244 Flagler County residents have been vaccinated.

The health department is preparing to shift back to normal operations.

"Like you, we are ready for this to be over," Snyder said. "Hopefully, five to six weeks, this pandemic will transition to an endemic, like the annual flu."

He added, "We see the end in sight, everyone, and let's just move on with our lives. ... We are all ready for that."