Florida adds 12,624 COVID-19 cases
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Florida announced another 12,624 cases of COVID-19 Monday, the second-highest daily total for a state now known as one of the world centers for the disease.
The number of people hospitalized continued to rise, going from 7,511 Sunday to 8,072 on Monday, according to the Florida Agency for Healthcare Administration.
The new case total fell short of the record-shattering 15,300 cases announced Sunday, a figure that generated headlines across the United States and maintained Florida’s status as one of the states driving the disease’s resurgence.
There were 35 additional deaths, according to the Florida Department of Health, which puts out daily reports on the COVID-19 situation. This was the lowest daily death count in more than a week, although death totals fluctuate from day to day, and the two-week trend in deaths has been up.
In one favorable sign, the positivity rate, a key figure to indicate the prevalence of the disease, continued a decline begun last week. The rate Monday was 12.9%, down from last Wednesday’s peak of 20.7%.
Experts say states should aim for a positivity rate of 10% or less. The World Health Organization has recommended a positivity rate of 5% before countries start to reopen.
South Florida, which accounts for 29% of Florida’s population, reported 5,416 new cases in the past day, or 43% of the total.
Broward County: 1,459 new coronavirus cases reported Monday, bringing the total to 31,484. A total of 487 people have died, with no more deaths reported since Sunday.
Palm Beach County: 788 new cases were reported, bringing the total to 21,806. A total of 625 people have died, five more since Sunday.
Miami-Dade County: 3,269 new cases, bringing the total to 67,713. A total of 1,158 people have died. That’s four more than Sunday.
An additional 574 people were reported hospitalized for COVID-19 Monday, an 8% increase over Sunday. The total hospitalized stands at 8,072.
Miami-Dade County has the most people hospitalized, with 1,806, followed by Broward with 1,211, a 30% increase over the 931 people hospitalized Sunday. Palm Beach County with 622, one less than Sunday.
Since the pandemic began, 282,435 people have tested positive for the virus in Florida. So far, a total of 2.6 million people have been tested.
The positivity rate for the 24-hour period is 11.5%.
The daily positive test rate in Monday’s report was 13.8% for Broward County, 20.2% for Miami-Dade and 11% for Palm Beach.
Deaths — Statewide: The official COVID-19 death total for Florida stood at 4,381 on Monday. That figure includes 104 non-residents.
Senior care: At least 2,114 of the state’s deaths have occurred in nursing homes and long-term care facilities, a figure that represents 48% of the state’s total for coronavirus deaths.