In 2024, Florida has seen nearly 100,000 COVID-19 cases as JN.1 variant spreads rapidly

A month and a half into the new year, there have been more than 98,000 cases of COVID-19 in the state, according to data from the Florida Department of Health. At the same time, data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows the JN.1 variant is causing 92 percent of cases across the country.

The proportion of cases of the variant that first appeared in the U.S. in September is expected to grow to 96 percent of cases over the next couple of weeks, according to the CDC’s data tracking variants of interest.

At the beginning of the year, JN.1, which is closely related to the variant BA.2.86, accounted for 65 percent of cases, showing just how quickly it has been able to develop.

In the past week, the state Department of Health reported 11,211 COVID-19 cases, though there is no specification of what variant caused them. A CDC report published on Feb. 1 states that the updated vaccine rolled out in September provided 54 percent increased protection against symptomatic COVID-19 infections. That vaccine was primarily meant to target cases of XBB.1.5.

Since distribution of the updated vaccine started, more than 1.5 million Floridians have chosen to get a shot, according to the state health department.

A September survey from researchers at the University of South Florida and Florida Atlantic University found the likelihood of a Floridian getting a COVID-19 booster depended on their political affiliation. Only 53% of Republicans would either very likely or somewhat likely get the COVID-19 boosters if they were recommended by public health officials, whereas 84.1% of Democrats and 69.3% of independent voters said they would.