DAILY DIP IN CASES; TREND IS UNCLEAR
8,892 in Monday report is lowest in Florida in three weeks
Florida reported 8,892 new COVID-19 cases Monday, the lowest count in nearly three weeks.
The last time the new case count was lower was July 7, with 7,347, according to the Florida Department of Health, which produces reports on the disease’s status every morning.
But it’s unclear whether the relatively low total represents much of a change for one of the hardest-hit states in the country. Case counts released Monday are often unusually low because of the weekend. The test results reported on a single day reflect tests taken over several days.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, whose popularity has declined with the state’s skyrocketing coronavirus totals, asserted Monday that the latest indications showed a brightening picture for Florida.
At a news conference in Miami with Vice President Mike Pence, DeSantis took the podium and ticked off a series of what he claimed were favorable signs. Emergency room visits and hospital admissions were down. The test positivity rate was declining. The case fatality rate remained lower than other big states.
“Part of the reason is Florida is laserfocused on protecting its vulnerable in long-term care facilities, but also it’s because of the great medical system in Florida,” he said, speaking at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.
DeSantis said he has been able to get multiple shipments of remdesivir, which is generating better patient outcomes than Florida saw in March.
“Hospital census is stabilizing and declining in many parts of the state,” he said.
Pence, who appeared with the governor to kick off the first large-scale clinical trial of a potential vaccine in the United States, promised continued help and se
conded the governor’s assertion that Florida’s COVID-19 situation was beginning to turn around.
“President Trump wanted me to be here to say to people of Florida we are with you, we are encouraged by the favorable trends in Florida,” Pence said. “We will continue to help health care professionals provide the level of care we would want for our family members.”
The number of deaths increased by 77, pushing the state’s total death count to 6,049.
On Saturday Florida surpassed New York State in the total number of COVID-19 cases, leaving only California with more cases than Florida. The state’s total now stands at 432,747.
South Florida
South Florida, which accounts for 29% of Florida’s population, reported 4,627 new cases in the past day, or 52% of the daily total for the state, according to the state Department of Health.
Broward County: 1,434 new coronavirus cases were reported Sunday, bringing the total to 50,784. A total of 632 people have died, two more than reported Sunday.
Palm Beach County: 633 new cases were reported, bringing the total to 30,958. A total of 773 people have died, three more than reported Sunday.
Miami-Dade County: 2,560 new cases on Sunday, bringing the total to 107,315. A total of 1,420 people have died. That’s 16 more than reported Sunday.
Testing, positivity rate
Florida says it has tested 3.4 million people since the pandemic began, and 12.6% have been positive. Florida reported an 11.4% positivity rate for tests statewide in the previous 24-hour period, up slightly since Sunday. The rate was 18.1% for Miami-Dade, 13.3% for
Broward and 8.8% for Palm Beach County. MiamiDade’s rate was the same as that reported Sunday, but the rates for Broward and Palm Beach have dropped slightly.
The daily positivity rate is a key figure, since it’s one of the numbers that indicates the prevalence of the disease in the population. In May, Florida’s positivity rate was about 5%.
Hospitalizations
The number of people being treated for COVID-19 at hospitals on Monday increased both in South Florida and statewide. The total stood at 9,035, as of noon Monday, according to the Florida Agency for Healthcare Administration.
Miami-Dade County has the most people hospitalized with a primary diagnosis of the new coronavirus: 1,963 patients, an increase of 49 since Sunday. Next is Broward with 1,276, up by 16 since Sunday. Palm Beach County has 619 patients, an increase of 13.
Deaths Statewide:
The
official
COVID-19 death total for Florida reached 6,049 on Monday. That figure includes 118 people who were not residents.
The three South Florida counties account for 2,825 deaths, which is 47% of the state total.
Nationwide: Florida’s death rate is in the middle compared with other states. Florida’s death rate per 100,000 people was 27 as of Monday, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control.
Senior care: At least 2,689 deaths have occurred in nursing homes and longterm care facilities, a figure that represents 44% of the state total.
Miami-Dade County has the highest number of longterm care facility deaths, with 592, or 22% of the total. Palm Beach County had 310 deaths, or 12%, and Broward accounted for 201 deaths, or 7%.