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Putting Florida’s COVID-19 cases in context
Despite Florida's high numbers, there are some encouraging trends in the data that suggest the state could be bending the curve.
TAMPA, Fla. - The Florida Department of Health says the number of known cases of COVID-19 in the state rose by 9,194 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 291,629.
The number of Florida resident deaths has reached 4,409, an increase of 132 since Monday's update. Another 105 non-Floridians have died in the state. Locally, Pinellas County reported 26 new deaths, Polk reported 10, Pasco reported five, Hernando reported two, while Hillsborough and Citrus each reported one.
Of the 291,629 cases, 287,789 are Florida residents while 3,840 are non-Florida residents currently in the state.
Bay Area COVID-19 cases by the numbers:
- Hillsborough: 20,508
- Pinellas: 11,754
- Sarasota: 3,334
- Manatee: 5,419
- Sumter: 681
- Polk: 7,881
- Citrus: 618
- Hernando: 946
- Pasco: 4,189
- Highlands: 590
- DeSoto: 951
- Hardee: 613
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 Tuesday, 8,197 Floridians were currently hospitalized for a primary diagnosis of COVID-19; in total, 18,881 have been hospitalized for treatment at some point.
A total of 2,688,366 people have been tested in the state as of Tuesday -- about 12.5% 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 42nd 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 15.02% on Monday, 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.
Tuesday's total number of newly reported deaths was the largest single-day increase of the pandemic, more than the 120 new deaths reported back on July 9.
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.
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Experts explain how Florida counts COVID-19 deaths
Health experts say the daily number of deaths reported by the state does not reflect the actual amount of deaths on that exact day.
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.
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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
CORONAVIRUS IN FLORIDA: What you need to know
AROUND THE WORLD: CoronavirusNOW.com
Map of known COVID-19 cases:
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