Florida reports 10,347 new COVID-19 cases
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Another 10,347 cases of COVID-19 were posted Monday in Florida, a number that maintains the state’s status as one of the worst-hit parts of the U.S.
Gov. Ron DeSantis, whose leadership has come under criticism as the state’s cases soared, had a news conference Monday interrupted by protesters yelling “Shame on you, Ron DeSantis!” and “You’re lying to the public!”
There were 92 more deaths in Monday’s update, not a record but continuing the elevated numbers of the past two weeks that show fatalities catching up with the high daily case totals. The deaths included 90 Florida residents and two non-residents, according to the Florida Department of Health, which posts daily updates on COVID-19.
The new cases reported Monday bring the total to 360,394.
Orange County sheriff’s deputies removed the protesters at the governor’s event in Orlando, but they continued shouting outside and pounding on windows during the rest of the news conference.
“We will not be defunding the police,” DeSantis said, after the deputies took the protesters out. “Don’t worry about that. We will support our men and women in law enforcement.”
The governor held the news conference at the Orlando headquarters of OneBlood, a company that provides blood to the healthcare industry. The governor made a plea for blood donations from people who had recovered from the disease.
OneBlood uses the donations to produce what’s called convalescent plasma, which is used to treat COVID-19 patients because it contains antibodies developed by people who have recovered.
The rate of people testing positive rose to 14.7%, the highest number in a week. The positivity rate is a closely watched figure, since it’s one of the numbers that indicates the prevalence of the disease in the population.
The total currently hospitalized continued to rise, going from 9,351 on Sunday to 9,475 on Monday. Miami-Dade County continued to account for the largest number of hospitalizations, followed by Broward, then Palm Beach.
The record daily death total was set last Thursday, with 156. But Monday’s death count continues an upward trend that began in late June. The total number of deaths in Florida stands at 5,183.
SOUTH FLORIDA
South Florida, which accounts for 29% of Florida’s population, reported 5,133 new cases in the past day, or nearly half the daily total for the state, according to the state Department of Health.
Broward County: 1,695 new coronavirus cases were reported Sunday, bringing the total to 40,976. A total of 537 people have died, 20 more since Sunday.
Palm Beach County: 641 new cases were reported, bringing the total to 26,426. A total of 698 people have died, five more since Sunday.
Miami-Dade County: 2,797 new cases, bringing the total to 87,035. A total of 1,325 people have died. That’s seven more than Sunday.
Testing and the positivity rate
Florida says it has tested more than 3 million people since the pandemic began, and 11.79% have been positive.
Florida on Monday reported a 14.7% positivity rate for tests statewide in the previous 24-hour period, the highest rate in a week.
The rate was 17.6% for Broward County, 22.6% for Miami-Dade and 13.3% for Palm Beach.
In May, Florida’s positivity rate was around 5% for COVID-19 testing.
HOSPITALIZATIONS
The number of people being treated for COVID-19 at hospitals increased by 124 since Sunday, continuing an upward trend that has put pressure on staff, supplies and available beds.
The total stood at 9,475 as of noon Monday, according to the Florida Agency for Healthcare Administration. About 24 hours earlier, the same report listed 9,351 patients.
Miami-Dade County has the most people hospitalized with a primary diagnosis of the new coronavirus: 2,052, an increase of 44 since Sunday. Next is Broward with 1,261, up by 21 since Sunday. Palm Beach County has 624, an increase of 18.
The state also reported that 21,263 Florida residents have been hospitalized since the start of the pandemic.
DEATHS
Statewide: The official COVID-19 death total for Florida stood Monday at 5,183. That figure includes 111 non-residents. The three South Florida counties account for 2,560 deaths, which is 49.4% of the state total.
Nationwide: Florida’s death rate was about in the middle compared to other states.
Florida’s death rate per 100,000 people was 23, according to COVID Data Tracker from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The death toll is much higher in New York City with 279 deaths for 100,000. California has had 19 deaths per 100,000, and Texas has had 13.5 deaths.
The total number of deaths was highest in New York state, with 34,495 and New Jersey, with 15,706. Most of those fatalities occurred in the first few months of the pandemic.
Senior care: At least 2,400 deaths have occurred in nursing homes and long-term care facilities, a figure that represents 46.3% of the state total. Miami-Dade County has the highest number of long-term care facility deaths, with 575, or 24% of the total. Palm Beach County had 284 deaths, or 12%, and Broward accounted for 177 deaths or 7%.
GLOBAL VIEW
U.S.: The coronavirus death toll in the United States reached 140,563 as of 12:35 p.m. Eastern time Monday, according to the Coronavirus Resource Center at Johns Hopkins University.
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