Positivity rate spikes to 22.75% amid holiday-low testing numbers

The number of people in Florida who tested positive for COVID-19 soared Tuesday to 22.75% of those testing positive for the first time, the highest rate since the state started reporting the metric in April. But state health officials cautioned the jump is likely because fewer people were tested during the Christmas holidays.

Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties also reported unprecedented highs in COVID-19 positivity rates on Tuesday, with rates of 23.97%, 24.03% and 19.50%, respectively, according to the state health department.

The high positivity rates came as the state returned to double-digit new COVID cases after a lag around Christmas. Florida’s Department of Health on Tuesday confirmed 12,075 additional cases of COVID-19, bringing the state’s known total to 1,292,252, the third-highest after California and Texas, according to the New York Times database of U.S. cases. The state also announced 101 new resident deaths, bringing the resident toll to 21,409. Four new nonresident deaths were also confirmed, leading to a nonresident death toll of 309.

The DOH is attributing the spikes in positivity rates to low testing during the holidays. “The reported positivity rate is 22.75 percent, which should be interpreted with caution due to reduced hours and closures at doctor’s offices, public testing sites, and laboratories for the holidays,” the DOH said.

According to Tuesday’s report, 62,303 people were tested on Monday when Florida saw its highest positivity rate. That represents the lowest number of people tested in the last two weeks, when upward of 150,000 people were tested on individual days.

Tuesday’s statewide positivity rate of 22.75 percent doubled the 11.08 percent positivity rate the state disclosed in Monday’s report. The 11.08% rate reported Monday was a spike since the high rates of August. The 11.08% rate was based on 84,552 people being tested in a day.

●Miami- Dade reported 2,825 additional confirmed cases of COVID-19 and nine new deaths, according to Florida’s Department of Health. The county has now had 293,188 confirmed cases and 4,164 deaths. Percent positivity for new cases increased from 10.81% on Sunday to 23.97% on Monday. Miami-Dade tested 8,913 people on Monday, the lowest level in the past two weeks. The 14-day percent positivity average was 9.73%.

●Broward reported 1,102 additional confirmed cases and two new deaths. The county’s known total is now at 134,582 cases and 1,830 deaths. Percent positivity for new cases increased from 8.42% on Sunday to 24.03% on Monday. Broward tested 3,396 people on Monday, the lowest number in the past two weeks.

●Palm Beach saw 525 additional confirmed cases and seven new deaths. The county has 81,390 confirmed cases and 1,873 deaths. Percent positivity for new cases increased from 10.47% on Sunday to 19.50% on Monday. Palm Beach tested 2,109 people Monday, the lowest number in the last two weeks.

●Monroe confirmed 14 more cases and no new deaths. Monroe has a known total of 4,182 cases and 35 deaths. Percent positivity for new cases is up from 9.82% to 10.80%.