156 new coronavirus deaths is latest Florida daily record; nearly 14,000 new cases
TAMPA, Fla. - The Florida Department of Health says the number of known cases of COVID-19 in the state rose by 13,965 since yesterday morning as the virus spreads and as more people are tested across the state. The total number of cases in Florida is now 315,775.
The number of Florida resident deaths has reached 4,677, an increase of 156 since Wednesday's update. Another 105 non-Floridians have died in the state. Locally, Hillsborough County reported 40 new deaths, Pinellas reported 17, Manatee, Pasco and Polk counties each reported four, Hernando reported three, while DeSoto and Sumter each reported one.
Of the 315,775 cases, 311,640 are Florida residents while 4,135 are non-Florida residents currently in the state.
Bay Area COVID-19 cases by the numbers:
- Hillsborough: 21,557
- Pinellas: 12,368
- Sarasota: 3,724
- Manatee: 5,914
- Sumter: 757
- Polk: 8,498
- Citrus: 702
- Hernando: 1,016
- Pasco: 4,489
- Highlands: 656
- DeSoto: 1,015
- Hardee: 649
Florida resident cases in orange; Florida resident deaths in gray. Source: Fla. Dept. of Health.
The state is not reporting a total number of "recovered" coronavirus patients. As of Thursday, 8,358 Floridians were currently hospitalized for a primary diagnosis of COVID-19; in total, 19,334 have been hospitalized for treatment at some point.
A total of 2,819,000 people have been tested in the state as of Thursday -- about 13.1% of the state's population -- according to the Florida Department of Health.
LINK: County-by-county Florida coronavirus cases and ZIP code map
Source: Fla. Dept. of Health
Today's new case number represents the 44th straight day with new cases near or over 1,000 per day. The rate of positive new tests has increased during that time period. It was at 12.94% on Wednesday, the most recent date available.
As the number of new cases has trended up over the last few weeks, the number of deaths has also begun to reflect the same upward trend -- though "significant delays" in data reporting, as the state says, make interpreting short-term trends from that statistic less reliable.
Thursday's newly reported deaths was the largest single-day increase of the pandemic and comes two days day after the previous record daily number of 132.
Source: Fla. Dept. of Health
Experts say the current spike is partly due to more tests being given, but also a result of reopening the state.
Gov. Ron DeSantis says the recent case increases are largely due to testing of "high-risk" individuals like farmworkers in the state's rural counties, prisoners, and residents of long-term care facilities, though he has more recently noted the "erosion" in social distancing, especially among the younger demographics in social setting. That prompted him to order all bars to cease serving alcohol.
Editor's note: The number of new cases and deaths reported each day does not necessarily reflect the day that the case was confirmed. The state says some private testing labs dump large batches of test results which include cases from previous days. Stats for today and previous days will likely change in the future as the state reviews more cases and updates retroactive data.
The state's number of deaths represents permanent Florida residents who have died from COVID-19.
If you feel sick:
The Florida Department of Health has a COVID-19 Call Center at 1-866-779-6121. Agents will answer questions around the clock. Questions may also be emailed to covid-19@flhealth.gov. Email responses will be sent during call center hours.
LINK: Florida's COVID-19 website
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