After no report New Year's Day, 31,518 new Florida coronavirus cases reported Saturday; 217 new deaths
TAMPA, Fla. - The Florida Department of Health says the number of known cases of COVID-19 in the state rose by 31,518 Saturday, after not releasing a report on Jan. 1. According to the state's daily update, the total number of cases in Florida is now 1,354,833.
The number of Florida resident deaths has reached 21,890, an increase of 217 since Thursday's update. In addition, a total of 320 non-Floridians have died in the state.
Locally, Hillsborough County reported 13 new deaths, Pasco County reported nine, Citrus County reported eight, Pinellas and Sarasota Counties each reported three, Highlands and DeSoto Counties each reported two, while Hernando, Polk, Manatee, and Sumter Counties each reported one new death.
Of the 1,354,833 cases, 1,331,059 are Florida residents while 23,774 are non-Florida residents currently in the state.
Bay Area COVID-19 cases by the numbers:
- Hillsborough: 79,472
- Pinellas: 46,310
- Sarasota: 19,035
- Manatee: 22,712
- Sumter: 5,299
- Polk: 38,414
- Citrus: 6,832
- Hernando: 7,614
- Pasco: 22,634
- Highlands: 5,073
- DeSoto: 2,935
- Hardee: 2,146
Source: Florida Department of Health
The state is not reporting a total number of "recovered" coronavirus patients. As of Saturday, 6,701 Floridians were currently hospitalized for a primary diagnosis of COVID-19, an increase of 338 since Thursday, with a state total of 63,148 having been hospitalized for treatment at some point.
Vaccination efforts are ramping up across the state. Since Wednesday, 12,330 more residents received their initial vaccine dose, bringing the total to 243,107. No one has yet received their second and final dose.
Source: Florida Department of Health
The number of new cases had generally been trending down in the fall, mirroring the number of tests being given. But it has begun to increase again. The 17,192 new cases reported Thursday was the highest single-day increase since July.
The rate of positive new tests has declined from its summertime peak, remaining below 10% for several months, but it has also begun to increase again. It was at 10.13% on Friday, the most recent date available.
After peaking in July, the number of deaths also began a downward trend in August that continued until November -- though "significant delays" in data reporting, as the state says, make interpreting short-term trends from that statistic less reliable.
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Source: Florida Department of Health
PDF: DOH's full county-by-county COVID-19 case report
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, and data can take days or weeks to validate. 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.
MAP: Florida coronavirus cases by county
If you feel sick:
The Florida Department of Health has opened 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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