State surpasses 700K confirmed COVID-19 cases

Florida now has more than 700,000 confirmed cases of the coronavirus, according to statistics released by the state Department of Health Sunday.

The state reported 1,882 new confirmed cases and 10 new deaths caused by the virus. Overall, 14,200 people have died from the disease in Florida, including 168 non-residents.

There were 2,101 people hospitalized with the virus, or eight fewer than the day before.

Florida is third in the nation for COVID-19 infections behind California, which leads with over 807,000 confirmed infections, and Texas with over 754,000.

From Sunday to Sunday,

Florida saw 16,810 new cases, 1,080 newly reported hospitalizations, and 736 newly reported deaths in state health department data.

In comparison, the week ending Sept. 20 saw 19,760 new cases, 1,156 newly reported hospitalizations, and 688 newly reported deaths.

This weekly report marks the third week with less than 20,000 new cases posted by the health department. Florida saw 12 straight weeks of over 20,000 new cases, with as many as 80,000 posted in the week ending July 19.

Over 5.2 million people have been tested in Florida, with 18,439 more tests reported Sunday compared with the previous day.

Over 158,000 people were tested in the past week. Florida saw a peak in testing with over 429,000 posted for the week ending July 19.

Testing continues to decline statewide to a daily average of about 23,600 so far in September. That’s down from about 32,000 daily tests on average in August and 54,400 a day in July.

Statewide, the latest positivity rate reported by the DOH was 4.08%, but that’s for new cases only and excludes anyone who previously tested positive. For all cases including retests of those previously infected, the latest positivity rate is 5.34%.

Central Florida on Sunday added 345 cases for a total of 110,602: 98 new cases in Orange for 39,973; 84 in Polk for19,849; 43 in Osceola for 12,438; 26 in Volusia for 10,815; 26 in Seminole for 8,998; 41in Brevard for 8,841; 22 in Lake for 7,466; and five in Sumter for 2,222. (See details on all Central Florida cases here).

Central Florida did not report any new deaths Sunday. The region’s toll stands at 2,115. Polk County, due to nursing-home outbreaks, has the most coronavirus fatalities in the region with 529, followed by 445 in Orange, 293 in Brevard, 239 in Volusia, 208 in Seminole,189 in Lake, 145 in Osceola, and 67 in Sumter.

Central Florida accounts for nearly 16% of the cases statewide and 15% of the deaths.

Orange County reported 113 patients hospitalized, Osceola with 64, Seminole with 31, and Lake with 30 as of about about 10:30 a.m. Sunday.

To date, 44,108 people have been hospitalized in Florida, the state’s COVID -19 dashboard shows. But those numbers could include cases that are weeks old.