Multiple Lee County Sheriff’s units respond Exeter St. and Gorham Ave. sceneGov. DeSantis signs bills to improve the Florida student experience
A health care worker collects a COVID-19 test sample after a person used a nasal swab for a self-administered test at the COVID-19 drive-thru testing center at Miami Beach Convention Center Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2020, in Miami Beach, Fla. (David Santiago/Miami Herald via AP) As of 4:00 p.m. Saturday, there have been 931,828 positive cases of the coronavirus recorded in the state. The case count includes 918,240 Florida residents and 13,588 non-Florida residents. There are 17,930 Florida resident deaths reported, 222 non-resident deaths, and 53,266 hospitalizations at some point during illness, according to the Florida Department of Health. *Numbers are released by the DOH daily at approximately 11 a.m. but are occasionally delayed. STATEWIDE NUMBERS Total number of recorded cases: 931,828 (up from 923,418) Florida resident deaths: 17,930 (up from 17,889) Non-resident deaths: 222 (up from 221) Total deaths in state (Fla./non-Fla. residents combined): 18,152 (up from 18,110) 8,410 total new cases reported Saturday 41 new resident deaths reported Saturday 1 new non-resident deaths reported Saturday Percent positive for new cases in Fla. residents: 6.79% This percent is the number of people who test PCR- or antigen-positive for the first time divided by all the people tested that day, excluding people who have previously tested positive. SOUTHWEST FLORIDA NUMBERS Total recorded cases in SWFL: 54,529 (up from 54,004) Deaths: 1,099 (up from 1,094) 525 total new cases reported Saturday 5 new deaths reported Saturday Lee County: 27,891 cases (up from 27,585) – 561 deaths (5 new) Collier County: 16,749 (up from 16,618) – 273 deaths (0 new) Charlotte County: 4,624 (up from 4,576) – 179 deaths DeSoto County: 2,189 (up from 2,163) – 33 deaths Glades County: 652 (up from 649) – 8 deaths Hendry County: 2,424 (up from 2,413) – 45 deaths Click HERE* for a case-by-case breakdown – updated daily. *If not linked, the final report has not yet been made available. TESTING DATA Effective Oct. 27, the Florida Department of Health ceased releasing data showing overall testing numbers. Their statement: “The Florida Department of Health is making adjustments to the COVID-19 dashboard and daily report to provide clear, accurate information for Florida families. Moving forward, the daily report will focus on the number of tests reported to the state by day and the corresponding positivity rate by day. The previously reported cumulative number did not reflect the current status of the pandemic in Florida. This change is in line with the CDC recommendation that calculation of percent positivity [is] applied consistently and with clear communication, will allow public health officials to follow magnitude and trends effectively, and the trends will be useful for local public health decision making.” RESOURCES NOW HIRING: SWFL companies adding jobs #GulfshoreStrong: Covering people making a difference in SWFL FOOD PANTRIES: Harry Chapin mobile food pantry schedule, week of Nov. 16 REPORT COVID-19 DIAGNOSIS/TEST: International self-reporting system IF YOU FEEL SICK: The Florida Department of Health has a 24-hour COVID-19 Call Center at 1-866-779-6121. Questions may also be emailed to covid-19@flhealth.gov. Email responses will be sent during call center hours. LINK: Florida Department of Health COVID-19 updates *The map is best viewed on a desktop computer. If you don’t see the map above tap HERE for a fullscreen version.