Florida added 19,530 cases of coronavirus and 194 deaths, raising the death toll to 23,011. More than 1.4 million people have been infected nationwide since March.
According to the Florida Department of Health, the state processed 148,494 test results on Thursday, with a daily positivity rate of 11.46 percent. It can take officials up to two weeks to confirm and report a coronavirus-related death, which means that the number of deaths added is not necessarily the number of people who died the previous day.
The United States shattered Thursday’s death records and reported about 4,000 deaths while state and local governments want to vaccinate their populations. With more than 19,000 new infections, Florida saw a record number of cases Thursday, the second consecutive day and the third time in a week that it exceeded previous daily records of cases.
Vaccinations: Florida has vaccinated 443,616 people, including 36,984 in the last 24 hours.
In Hillsborough County, 22,828 people were vaccinated; in Pinellas, 22 777; in Pasco, 9,352; in Manatee, 9,304; in Polk, 7,180; in Hernando, 3 180; and in Citrus, 2,555.
As the counties in Tampa Bay launched vaccines for the elderly this week, many faced obstacles due to accidents on the site and an overwhelming demand. Hillsborough, Pinellas and Hillsborough stopped taking reservations on Tuesday after filling all available slots. Hillsborough expects more vaccines to be available next week, while Pinellas said it will offer more appointments as new doses become available. Information on vaccines in Hernando County can be found on the Web site or by calling 352-540-6800.
Hospitalizations: According to the agency for health care administration, hospitals in Florida currently treat 7,346 people for COVID-19, including 1,547 in Tampa Bay.
The state recorded 364 new admissions on Friday, with 65 in Tampa Bay.
About 19 percent of hospital beds and 16 percent of beds for intensive care units for adults were available across the country. In Tampa Bay, about 18 percent of hospital beds and 13 percent of adults were open to ICU beds. In Tampa, Memorial Hospital’s 107 regular beds and its 11 adult ICU beds were full from Friday morning. Four of Tampa General’s 93 adult ICU beds were open.
Positivity: According to Johns Hopkins University, Florida’s weekly average positivity rate was 13.89 percent.
According to the World Health Organization, states and regions must maintain a positivity rate of five percent or less for at least two weeks before weakening social guidelines. Three states and the District of Columbia currently have a positive percentage of less than 5 percent.
Local numbers: Tampa Bay added 3,487 cases and 24 deaths on Friday.
Hillsborough County added eight deaths, while Polk added seven. The provinces of Pinellas and Manatee each added three deaths, and Pasco reported two. There was one new death in Citrus County. No new deaths were reported in Hernando County.
Polk County’s weekly average positivity rate was 15 percent; Hillsborough’s positivity rate was 14 per cent; Pasco’s was 13 percent; Citrus County was also 13 percent; Hernando’s positivity rate was 12 percent; Pinellas County’s was 11 percent and Manatee’s 10 percent.
As of the latest count, Hillsborough has 84,714 cases and 1,125 deaths; Pinellas has 49,771 cases and 1,125 deaths; Polk has 41,620 cases and 833 deaths; Manatee has 24,278 cases and 446 deaths; Pasco has 24,363 cases and 408 deaths; Hernando has 8,171 cases and 290 deaths; and Citrus has 7,340 cases and 285 deaths.
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Is the coronavirus outbreak in Florida still growing?
Cases of coronavirus in Florida by age group
Doctors say older people are at greater risk of developing severe COVID-19 symptoms, making Florida particularly vulnerable.
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