State sees 6,820 new COVID-19 cases

Florida health officials on Sunday reported another 6,820 new cases of COVID-19, the highest number of new infections since mid-August. The high number of new cases comes even after many testing sites in South Florida closed temporarily for theweekend with due to the approach of Tropical StormEta.

Sunday’s count extended Florida’s streak of days with more than 4,000 cases to eight.

The state also reported another 22 deaths from the virus, bringing the total fatalities fromthe virus in Florida to 17,333.

As the new cases rise, the state posted a testing positivity rate of 6.23%, for new infections only, a drop from8.27% on Saturday.

During November, demand for testing has been climbing, as have new infections. Even with some testing sites closed for theweekend — including those that offer rapid results within 15 minutes — Florida

health officials reported results for 116,966 people, the fourth time in 10 days withmore than 100,000 results.

Most new cases reported Sunday were people between the ages of 15and34. That age group madeup about40% of the new cases.

While Sunday’s figures for new cases are far below Florida’s pandemic record totals from the summer, all are indicators of a state again losing its gripon the coronavirus. Public health experts warn that this resurgence will get worse without a renewed focus on social distancing, facial coverings and better hygiene.

Thestate’s increased virus transmission is part of a nationwide trend of rising infections. The U.S. reached a one-day record of 126,480 cases on Friday, according to Johns Hopkins University.

Since March, Florida has reported positive COVID-19 tests for 843,897 people, along with the virus deaths of 17,333 Floridians and212 non-residents who died in the state.

South Florida

Broward County: 817 additional cases, and three new deaths. The county has a known total of 90,997 cases and 1,548 deaths since the beginning of the pandemic. Thedeath tally includes 29 non-residents.