Data shows SWFL COVID-19 cases trending downward

Reporter: Morgan Rynor Writer: Jackie Winchester
Published: Updated:
People wait in lines for rapid-results COVID-19 tests at CenturyLink Sports Complex in south Fort Myers Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2020. People we spoke to shared concerns for lack of social distancing and for those who did not wear masks, which was said would be addressed by the test site staff. Credit: WINK News.

A Lee County commissioner says COVID-19 restrictions in other states are “crazy,” that they don’t work and he’s mapping out the proof.

Commissioner Brian Hamman posted four graphs on social media using data from the Florida Department of Health that shows in the last four weeks, COVID-19 cases, the positivity rate, hospitalizations, and ER visits are trending down.

“I was never anti-mask or anti-restrictions or anti-anything; what I wanted to do was empower people to make the best decisions they could for their lives. And to do that they needed good information,” Hamman said.

Nationwide, cases are also trending down, something experts predicted would happen after the holiday season.

“I think what we’ve been able to prove is that the restrictions that are in California and New York really didn’t make that big of a difference compared to what you saw here in Lee County where we didn’t have any of those crazy restrictions, and our numbers are still going down, in some cases even faster than theirs,” the commissioner said.

Hamman told WINK News that people are flocking to Florida in part because of the governor’s “we’re open” policy.

“Home values are skyrocketing in Lee County right now. They’ve gone up quite a bit over the last quarter. And on top of that, we’ve seen home sales really pick up.”

He isn’t worried about the trend changing as we head into Spring Break.

“My message to the community and Lee County is to keep doing what you’re doing. Obviously, it’s working.”

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