- January 31, 2025
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Cases of COVID-19 are rising in Volusia County — with 256 new cases reported on Thursday, Dec. 17 — and local health officials are asking the public to not give into "COVID fatigue" and take extra care if choosing to travel over the upcoming holidays.
“As we approach Christmas and New Year’s, it’s now more important that we continue to follow those core safety measures," said Kevin Captain, county director of community information, during a news briefing on Friday, Dec. 18.
Volusia's total case count is at 19,334 as of Thursday, Dec. 17, and a total of 398 people have died. The positivity rate has ranged between 6% and 8.5% in the last week, according to state data. Holly Smith, communications manager for the Department of Health in Volusia County, said close to 1,300 new cases have been reported in the past week alone.
“We have not seen daily numbers like this since the summer high surge that we had in July and August," Smith said.
Many of these new cases are attributed to household infections, though some have been linked to gatherings of multiple households on Thanksgiving, she explained. If individuals are seeing mild symptoms such as a runny nose, dry throat or cough, they should not assume they have the common cold.
Though the recommendation is not to travel this holiday season, Smith said that if people choose to do so, they should plan on getting tested one to three days before they travel, and then be tested again three to five days upon their return.
As vaccine distribution begins nationwide, Volusia County awaits its turn. Peter Springer, county operational medical director, said the health department, county, hospital stakeholders as well as fire and police departments are working together so that, once a vaccine is available, they can plan to vaccinate the public at various locations.
“Even if you believe you’re not at risk for significant side effects of the virus, I urge you to consider getting vaccinated because there are elderly people in our community, there are people who have co-morbid condition, that really rely on the herd immunity portion of this vaccine," Springer said.
The state-run free COVID-19 testing site at the City Gym, located at 1000 Live Oak St. in New Smyrna Beach, will remain open daily through Jan. 31.
The site offers both self-swab rapid antigen and PCR testing. It operates from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. The site will close on Dec. 24 and 25 for Christmas holiday, and Jan. 1 for New Year's Day.
Appointments are not required but can be made by visiting bit.ly/C19rapidtest.
