Florida logs 21,000 cases in a day, amid spread of delta variant

ORLANDO: Florida reported 21,683 new cases of Covid-19, the state’s highest one-day total since the start of the pandemic, according to federal health data, as its theme park resorts again started asking visitors to wear masks indoors.

The state has become the new national epicentre for the virus, accounting for around a fifth of all new cases in the US, as the highly contagious Delta variant of the coronavirus continues to spread.

Republican Florida Governor Ron Desantis has resisted mandatory mask mandates and vaccinations, and along with the state Legislature, has limited local officials’ ability to impose restrictions meant to stop the spread.

Desantis also barred school districts from requiring students to wear masks when classes resume next month.

The latest numbers were recorded on Friday and released on Saturday on the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention’s website.

The figures show how quickly the number of cases is rising in the Sunshine State: only a day earlier, Florida reported 17,093 cases.

The previous peak in Florida had been 19,334 cases reported on Jan 7, before vaccinations became widespread.

The state reported 409 deaths this week, bringing the total to more than 39,000 since its first in March 2020.

The state’s peak happened in mid-august 2020, when 1,266 people died over a seven-day period.

Deaths usually follow increases in hospitalisations by a few weeks.

Desantis blamed the surge on a seasonal increase – more people are indoors because of the hot weather with air conditioning circulating the virus. About 60% of Floridians aged 12 and older are vaccinated, ranking it about midway among the states.