Centennial Park Recreation Center and pool closures Leatherback sea turtle nesting season begins in Sanibel
Catalina Mantilla, right, receives a COVID-19 test at a walk-up testing site, Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2020, in Miami. Florida health officials have reported a steady increase in the number of new coronavirus cases each day over the past month and a half, though the numbers are no where near the peak in July. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) As of 2 p.m. Saturday, there have been 1,264,588 positive cases of the coronavirus recorded in the state. The case count includes 1,243,118 Florida residents and 21,470 non-Florida residents. There are 21,135 Florida resident deaths reported, 302 non-resident deaths, and 61,288 hospitalizations at some point during illness, according to the Florida Department of Health. *Numbers are released by the DOH every afternoon. There was no report on Friday, Dec. 25, due to the Christmas holiday, and state-supported testing sites were closed Dec. 24 and 25. Saturday’s numbers reflect a two-day total. STATEWIDE NUMBERS Total number of recorded cases: 1,264,588 (up from 1,247,546) Florida resident deaths: 21,135 (up from 20,995) Non-resident deaths: 302 (up from 300) Total deaths in state (Fla./non-Fla. residents combined): 21,437 (up from 21,295) 17,042 total new cases reported Saturday 140 new resident deaths reported Saturday 2 new non-resident deaths reported Saturday Percent positive for new cases in Fla. residents: 8.00% 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: 73,923 (up from 73,302) Deaths: 1,317 (up from 1,299) 621 total new cases reported Saturday 18 new deaths reported Saturday Lee County: 38,575 cases (up from 38,288) – 651 deaths (5 new) Collier County: 21,558 (up from 21,428) – 326 deaths (1 new) Charlotte County: 7,000 (up from 6,854) – 228 deaths (11 new) DeSoto County: 2,835 (up from 2,816) – 52 deaths Glades County: 760 (up from 759) – 11 deaths Hendry County: 3,195 (up from 3,157) – 49 deaths (1 new) 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 VACCINES: State of Florida’s COVID-19 vaccine reports NOW HIRING: SWFL companies adding jobs FOOD PANTRIES: Harry Chapin mobile food pantry schedule, week of Dec. 21 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.