HOLT, Fla., Jan. 2, 2021—The United States kicked off the New Year by reporting more than 20 million total COVID-19 cases since the pandemic began.

Additionally, the new virus strain first identified in the United Kingdom has now been reported in Florida in Martin County, according to the Florida Department of Health Dec. 31. It was first reported in Colorado Dec. 29, and was also identified in California Dec. 30.

According to health experts, while the new strain, dubbed B.1.1.7, is much more contagious it is not any more lethal or deadly.

Because no statewide numbers were released yesterday due to the New Year’s Day holiday, Florida’s posting today exceeded more than 31,500 new cases, a cumulation of two days’ worth of numbers.

Okaloosa County’s two-day tally today pushed the county’s count over the 13,000 mark for the first time, bringing the total to 13,126. That averages to 6,563 additional cases each for yesterday and today.

It took only seven days for the county to go from 12,000 to 13,000 cases. It took nine days for the county to go from 11,000 cases to 12,000 cases.

Additionally, healthcare workers are bracing for an increase in virus numbers as a result of Christmas holiday travel.

Okaloosa County*

• Fort Walton Beach 3,745
• Crestview 3,381
• Niceville 2,101
• Destin 1,345
• Mary Esther 616
• Shalimar 602
• Baker 387
• Valparaiso 195
• Laurel Hill 186
• Eglin Air Force Base 173
• Holt 112
• Hurlburt Field 67
• Cinco Bayou 41
• Choctaw Beach 7
• Milligan 2
• Duke Field 2
• Navarre 1
• Florala 1
• Defuniak Springs 1

Around the area

• Milton 5,646
• Pace 882
• Bagdad 26
• Jay 309
• Paxton 15
• Defuniak Springs 1,569

*FROM FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH COVID-19 DATABASE