Nick of Time? Pinellas & Hillsborough Ordered to Stay Home Just as COVID Growth Accelerates

– Gypsy C. Gallardo for Power Broker Media Group

One day after Safer at Home orders went into effect in Hillsborough County (March 27) and two days after Pinellas County imposed a similar order (March 26), Florida Department of Health data show acceleration in case counts in the two counties, begging the question – were the strict containment efforts in time to begin flattening the curve?

Case Growth Curve, By County

As of Sunday morning, March 29, state officials show 4,246 Coronavirus positives in Florida, and 486 in the six counties tracked daily by Power Broker Media. This graph shows where we stood as of the end-of-day report Saturday. Over the prior 48-hours, Polk and Pinellas had the highest growth rate in cases, while Hillsborough had the biggest jump in case count. 

Cases, By Tampa Bay Counties

Hillsborough and Pinellas counties have the biggest case counts, by far. They also rank in the top 10 Florida counties for highest case counts. Hillsborough ranks 5th and Pinellas 8th for most people infected by the virus.

Hardest Hit Cities in Hillsborough & Pinellas

Tampa is undeniably Hillsborough County’s ground zero. The March 28 daily report by Florida Department of Health shows Tampa as home to three out of every four cases in Hillsborough (74%).

In Pinellas, that ratio is dispersed over the top five cities for case counts (St. Pete, Clearwater, Largo, Tarpon Springs and Seminole, in that order). Please note – the figures below are Florida resident cases only, as of March 28 at 10 AM.

By Gender

Pinellas is an oddity in its ratio of male COVID-positive people. Men are suffering in larger numbers across Florida, as 54% of COVID-19 positives, but their share is even larger in Pinellas. There, males are 60% of cases.

Please note – Power Broker Media continues to stress that state officials have not yet adopted non-traditional gender groupings.

By Age

In Hillsborough, the youngest victims of COVID-19 are ages 0, 3 and 6, according to the state’s daily report on March 28th at 10 AM. In Pinellas, today’s data show the youngest victim at age 15.

Hospitalizations

Manatee, Sarasota and Polk have the highest hospitalization rates in Tampa Bay; Hillsborough has the lowest. Power Broker Media will seek more information on the reasons for the vastly differing rates of hospitalizations across the county. Data show some correlation between age ranges and hospitalizations, but age alone doesn’t seem to explain the divergence.

Analysis by Urban Market Analytics, a division of Power Broker Media Group. To share news, views and resources with the Power Broker Media Group team, email us at reachout@powerbrokermagazine.com.