Daily Mail Online: LONDON, England – As of Saturday night, more than 30.2 million people have tested positive for the virus in the US, and more than 548,800 have died since the start of the pandemic.
According to the Florida Department of Health, there are currently more than 2 million total positive cases in Florida, with more than 33,700 fatalities.
Modeling suggests that there is going to be a ‘bump’ in the curve for cases in the state, Dr David Andrews explained to USA Today. Andrews is the associate professor at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and vice chair for pathology laboratories at Jackson Health System.
“Everyone is concerned, and the University of Miami epidemiologists have projected a surge to emerge from that activity post-spring break,” he said. “They’re predicting a bump in the next couple of weeks.”
Health experts are aware that more of the travelers and partiers may be vaccinated but express concern that the B.1.1.7 coronavirus could quickly become the dominant variant in Florida.
Andrew added that the variant, first identified in the UK, accounts for about 50 percent of the positive cases sampled at Jackson Health. The dominance of the variant could outspeed the pace the speed the vaccinations.
“What we’re seeing is an expansion of the U.K. variant in the Miami-Dade County,” he said.
If the variant spreads more, it can cause it to evolve and become more dangerous, Andrews added.
Experts are also keeping an eye out for the B.1.526 variant that has been spreading after popping up in New York in late November.
To stem the spread from maskless crowds in Miami, an 8pm curfew was put in effect in the entertainment district for Thursday through Monday, March 29.
Road closures lasted from 10pm until 6am, the Miami-Dade Transportation & Public Works shared on Twitter.
The MacArthur, Venetian and the Julia Tuttle Causeway were partially closed, with the agency sharing that there could be delays to Metrobus routes until March 29.
