Expand / Collapse search
☰

Orange County Dec. tourism tax revenue up 164% from 2020 as COVID cases decline

Updated  February 2, 2022 8:45pm EST
Orange County
FOX 35 Orlando

December tax numbers up 164% from 2020 as COVID cases decline

Coronavirus cases are beginning to drop again in Orange County. At the same time, revenue from tourism taxes have increased.

ORLANDO, Fla. - Orange County Mayor Jerry L. Demings provided an update on COVID-19 and the county’s efforts to monitor the omicron variant, COVID-19 testing, and vaccinations. 

This was the first coronavirus update from Mayor Demings since he himself tested positive for the virus last month.  Demings said he is fully vaccinated and boosted and experienced mild symptoms after his positive status was confirmed on Jan. 18.

COVID-19 BY THE NUMBERS

As of Tuesday, February 1, 2022, the Florida Department of Health is reporting that Orange County’s 14-day rolling positivity rate is 25.8 percent. Additional County statistics:

  • CDC level of community transmission is HIGH
  • Eligible residents (5+) who have at least one vaccine dose: 75 percent
  • Total positive cases for Orange County residents: 365,411
  • Total deaths contributed to COVID-19: 2,436 (112 in January 2022)

Orange County leaders provide latest data on coronavirus

Orange County leaders are providing an update on the latest COVID-19 numbers, vaccinations, and the county's response to the pandemic.

COVID-19 TESTING AND VACCINATIONS

COVID-19 testing and vaccination services are readily available throughout Orange County. Residents have several options to seek services from local government, retail, and federal partners. It is important to know that testing and vaccination services operated by Orange County Government Health Services will continue to operate throughout February.

Testing Services

For more information, visit ocfl.net/Testing.

Vaccination Services

  • Orange County Barnett Park
  • Orange County Public Schools
  • Federal Retail Pharmacy Program
  • VA Orlando Health Care Sites

For more information, visit ocfl.net/Vaccine.

COVID-19 WASTEWATER MONITORING

Orange County Government’s Utilities Department continues its participation in the National Wastewater Surveillance System. Latest test results for COVID-19 virus remnants per liter from Wednesday, February 2, 2022, include:

  • South: 633,465 gc/L (90 percent decrease from last month)
  • East: 1,082,423 gc/L (84 percent decrease from last month)
  • Northwest: 874,643 gc/L (93 percent decrease from last month)

TOURIST DEVELOPMENT TAX COLLECTIONS

Orange County Comptroller Phil Diamond announced that Tourist Development Tax (TDT) collections received by Orange County for December 2021 were $28,244,100, a 164.3 percent increase compared to December 2020. Additional month-to-month statistics include:

  • December 2021 collections were higher than November 2021 collections by $3.2 million
  • December 2021 collections were higher than December 2019 collections just $2.4 million
  • December 2021 collections were the highest December collection on record
  • December 2021 collections were the third-highest collections on record overall

For more TDT information, visit the Office of the Comptroller’s website to read its news release..

Click here for Orlando weather, Central Florida weather conditions, and live radar.