Florida health officials report 7K increase in COVID-19 cases

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. Health officials reported on Sunday that the number of confirmed cases of coronavirus in Florida had risen by 7,391.

The new cases reported Sunday brought the state’s score to 1,271,979 since the outbreak began earlier this year.

The Florida Department of Health has now reported 21,514 coronavirus-related deaths – with 77 additional deaths added to the death toll on Sunday. Five of the deaths reported Sunday were in Northeast Florida: two in St. Louis. Johns County, two in Alachua County and one in Duval County.

The number of people tested for COVID-19 has been significantly lower over the past two days, and it remains to be seen whether gatherings during the Christmas weekend will increase the number of infections in the state, as was the case after the Thanksgiving holiday. .

More than 171,000 people were tested for the virus on Friday and Saturday – dramatically lower than the 343,000 tested the two days before.

The state-wide positivity rate was 8.01% based on Friday’s testing and was 9.69% based on Saturday’s testing, the state Department of Health said Sunday.

More than 6,300 people were hospitalized Sunday because of the virus, according to the health department.

Common symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, cough, breathing problems, sore throat, muscle aches and loss of taste or smell. Most people develop only mild symptoms. However, some people, usually people with other medical complications, develop worse symptoms, including pneumonia.