Florida announces 4,426 new COVID cases and more than 130 deaths

Florida’s Department of Health on Tuesday announced 4,426 new confirmed cases of COVID-19. The state also announced 132 new deaths. Of those who died, 125 were residents.

The state has recorded a known total of 1,952,733 coronavirus cases and 32,481 total deaths. Among those who died, 31,889 were residents and 592 were nonresidents.

On Tuesday, the state reported the results of 91,613 residents tested on Monday. The state’s percent positivity for firsttime testers decreased from 5.96% to 5.87%.

More than 1.9 million Floridians have completed the two-dose series of Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna or have completed Johnson & Johnson’s single-dose vaccine, according to Tuesday’s vaccine report. So far, 17,497 people have received Johnson and Johnson’s vaccine and 1,948,443 have completed the two-dose series of either Pfizer or Moderna.

COVID-19 IN SOUTH FLORIDA

Miami-Dade County

reported 1,093 new cases and 52 deaths, putting its pandemic totals at

421,433 cases and 5,612 deaths. In Miami-Dade, 214,288 people were given the first dose of Pfizer or Moderna, 212,862 completed the two-dose series and 4,047 received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Percent positivity decreased from 6.29% to 6.00%.

Broward County

added 549 cases and seven deaths, moving its totals to 200,688 cases and 2,484 deaths. In Broward, 140,133 people were given the first dose of Pfizer or Moderna,

176,272 completed the two-dose series and 1,561 received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Percent positivity decreased from 6.75% to 6.28%.

Palm Beach County reported 258 new cases and one death, bringing its cumulative count to 123,778 cases and 2,523 deaths. In Palm Beach County, 114,861 people were given the first dose of Pfizer or Moderna, 193,694 completed the two-dose series and 525 received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Percent positivity increased from 5.86% to 5.90%.

Monroe County

added 18 new cases and no new deaths. Pandemic totals in the Keys are 6,023 cases and 46 deaths. In Monroe, 6,323 people were given the first dose of Pfizer or Moderna, 7,785 completed the twodose series and 73 received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Percent positivity increased from 9.49% to 10.23%.

FLORIDA COVID-19 HOSPITALIZATIONS

The Florida Agency for Health Care Administration reports the number of patients hospitalized statewide with a “primary diagnosis of COVID.” The data, which is updated at least every hour, does not distinguish between the number of COVID-19 patients in hospital intensive care units and those in acute-care beds, which require less attention from nurses.

Government officials use current hospitalizations to decide the next steps in fighting the pandemic.

As of 3:32 p.m. Tuesday, the agency said there were 3,311 people hospitalized. Of these, Miami-Dade had 575; Broward, 473; Palm Beach, 246; and Monroe, 10, the agency said.

According to MiamiDade’s New Normal Dashboard, county hospitals have reported 618 COVID-19 patients, down from 624. There were 56 new patients and 93 were discharged.

State hospitalization data doesn’t always match Miami-Dade’s New Normal Dashboard data for various reasons, including the frequency of daily updates.