State adds 6,257 new cases — most since mid-August

Florida’s coronavirus resurgence continued Thursday with the state’s worst day for new infections in almost three months amid signs of deepening pandemic trouble.

State officials reported 6,257 new C OVID19 cases, the most on any day since Aug. 15. Broward County tallied 868 new cases, and Palm Beach County had 486, the highest totals since Aug. 8.

Public health experts say rising infections in recentweeks appear to be linked, at least partly, to Gov. Ron DeSantis’ Sept. 25 order for the phase 3 full reopenings of bars and restaurants.

“Since we’re an open state in so many ways now, partly the governor’s order … andwe have coronavirus raging inthe upper Mid west and we’re a nice place to be weather-wise, it’s not going to take much for this to continue to go up or maybe even rise faster,” said Dr. Marissa J. Levine, director of the

University of South Florida’s Center for Leadership in PublicHealth Practice.

Among thewarning signs:

— As of Thursday, the number of new COVID cases per day in Florida hadincreased 79.7% over the pastweek (4,679) compared to Sept. 25 (2,604,) state data show.

— Hospitalizations for COVID-19 patients topped 2,500 statewide on Thursday, anincrease of400in the last fourweeks, records show.

— The percentage of people testing positive, for new COVID-19 infections only across the state, was 6.2% in the latest lab results, down from7.73% a day earlier, according to the state health department.

— Daily positivity rate also remained above 6% in South Florida’s Broward, Palm Beach and Miami-Dade counties. Medical experts say anything over 5% points to higher prevalence of the disease.

“We’re at a pivotal point where we can change the direction downward but we have to get our collective arms around this again, because it may be getting out of control if we don’t,” Levine said, urging social distancing, facial coverings andhygiene practices.

Florida’s increased virus spread is happeningascaseskeepclimbingacross the U.S. The nation posted a record of 102,831 daily cases onWednesday, accordingtoJohnsHopkinsUniversity.

During Florida’s recent upward trend, the state has confirmed at least 4,000newCOVID-19casesonnine out of the past 10days.

South Florida, which experienced the state’s worst outbreak during the pandemic, tallied 2,657 new cases on Thursday, or about 42.5% of the day’s total.

The state says 827,380 people have tested positive sinceMarch. Statistics showthat2.1% ofthecaseshaveturned deadly.

Also Thursday, officials reported another 39 residents have died from COVID-19. Most of the fatalities happenedinrecentweeksbutwerejust confirmed in the past day.

The 7-day average for virus deaths in Florida dropped to 39, which is the lowest since July 1.

But at least 17,170 people have died from COVID-19 in Florida, including 209non-residentswhodiedinthestate.

Broward County: 803 additional confirmed coronavirus cases and eight more deaths. The county has a known total of 89,184 cases and 1,571 deaths since the beginning of the pandemic. The death tally includes 29 non-residents. Palm Beach County: 458 additionalcasesofCOVIDdeaths. The county now has 54,260 confirmed cases and 1,630 deaths, including 24non-residents.

Miami-Dade County: 1,396 additional confirmed cases of COVID-19. Thecountynowhas190,728confirmed cases and 3,692 deaths, including 22 non-residents.

Hospitalizations

The number of people hospitalized in Florida forCOVID-19wentupinthe past day, updated state records show.

As of 12:30 p.m. Thursday, 2,527 people across the state were hospitalized with a primary diagnosis of COVID-19. That’s an increase of 42 patients fromabout 24 hours earlier.

In South Florida, Broward County reported 270 patients hospitalized, up by 22; Palm Beach County had 161, up by three; and Miami-Dade had the most in the state with 340, a increase of six.

The online report from the state Agency for Health Care Administration updates frequently throughout the day. Hospitalizations hit a peak in late July of about 9,500 patients. Four weeks ago, the number was about 2,100.

Since the pandemic began, 50,077 residents have been hospitalized for the disease, state health officials say.

Thursday’s report showsa total of 16,961 Floridians dead. In addition, the deaths of209non-residents have been attributed to the virus. State health officials recently said they are reviewing each death to ensure the overall count is accurate.

Florida has the fourth-highest total ofCOVID-19 deaths among the states, behind California, Texas and New York, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Florida’s death rate since the pandemic began ranks 10th among states, at 79 deaths per 100,000people, the CDC reports. That’s higher than the national rate of 71 deaths per 100,000.

Long-term-care facilities: At least 6,827 residents and staff have died at nursing homes and assisted-living centers throughout Florida. That’s another eight reported deaths in the past day.

Miami-Dade County has reported the highest number of deaths at longterm-care facilities, with 848. This number is two fewer than the total on the previous day; no explanation was provided. Palm Beach County is second with 725, an increase of one death. Broward has reported 451 deaths, up two.