State records over 6,000 new cases, 48 more deaths

Florida’s number of new coronavirus cases dropped dramatically Monday — to the lowest daily total since June 30 — but the data continued to show cause for concern as the virus spreads more widely.

The state’s total number of cases grew by 6,336, down from the record 11,458 new cases on Saturday. The change came as fewer people were tested over the holiday weekend, due to the closing of state-supported testing sites. Still, the percentage of people infected — close to 1 in 5 of those tested — remained almost as high as last week.

Although it is unlikely the state will revert to shutdown orders any time soon, local counties have begun tightening up. On Monday, Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez said restaurants and gyms in the county will close again starting on

Wednesday.

Gov. Ron DeSantis has suggested that Florida’s rise in total cases is due more to increased testing. But that’s the rising rate of positive tests indicates that the climb is also due to the virus’ spread, experts say. For the length of the pandemic, the percentage of positive tests has risen to almost 11%, higher than the 10% the state set as a benchmark when it started allowing businesses to reopen.

But Gov. DeSantis said Monday that it’s important for businesses to stay open and the economy to continue functioning. When asked about Walt Disney World’s planned reopening on July 11, he said he has no doubt the parks will provide a “safe environment” and called Disney’s plans “very, very thorough.”

He said the spread of the virus is more concerning in small social gatherings, where people — and in particular young people — “let their guard down.”

South Florida

Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties, which account for 29% of Florida’s population, reported 3,004 new cases in the past day.

Broward County: The state reported 617 new cases Monday, bringing the total to 21,856. A total of 436 people have died, two more since the day before.

Palm Beach County: 406 new cases were reported, bringing the total to 17,242. A total of 557 people have died, one more since Sunday.

Miami-Dade County: 1,981 new cases, bringing the total to 48,992. A total of 1,066 people have died, which is eight more than Sunday. Miami-Dade has 13% of the state’s population but 23.7% of the coronavirus cases and 27.5% of the deaths.