Florida tops 400,000 coronavirus cases; 135 new deaths reported Friday

TAMPA, Fla. - The Florida Department of Health says the number of known cases of COVID-19 in the state rose by 12,444 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 402,312.

The number of Florida resident deaths has reached 5,653, an increase of 135 since Thursday's update. Another 115 non-Floridians have died in the state. Locally, Polk County reported 12 new deaths, Highlands reported six, while Sumter, Sarasota, and Pinellas each reported three, Citrus and Hillsborough each noted two, and Hernando and Manatee each reported one.

Of the 402,312 cases, 397,470 are Florida residents while 4,842 are non-Florida residents currently in the state.

Bay Area COVID-19 cases by the numbers:

• Hillsborough: 26,037
• Pinellas: 14,726
• Sarasota: 4,837
• Manatee: 7,520
• Sumter: 941
• Polk: 10,909
• Citrus: 1,009
• Hernando: 1,348
• Pasco: 5,526
• Highlands: 968
• DeSoto: 1,144
• Hardee: 759

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 Friday, 9,225 Floridians were currently hospitalized for a primary diagnosis of COVID-19; in total, 23,225 have been hospitalized for treatment at some point.

A total of 3,281,087 people have been tested in the state as of Friday -- about 15.3% 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 52nd 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 13.31% on Thursday, 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 reflected the same upward trend -- though "significant delays" in data reporting, as the state says, make interpreting short-term trends from that statistic less reliable.

The 173 new deaths reported Thursday was the largest number of daily new deaths since the pandemic began. The previous high was 156 deaths added July 16.

PDF: DOH's full county-by-county COVID-19 case report

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

CORONAVIRUS IN FLORIDA: What you need to know

AROUND THE WORLD: CoronavirusNOW.com

Map of known COVID-19 cases:

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