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A nurse prepares a shot of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine at Guy’s Hospital in London, Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2020, as the U.K. health authorities rolled out a national mass vaccination program. U.K. regulators said Wednesday Dec. 9, 2020, that people who have a “significant history’’ of allergic reactions shouldn’t receive the new Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine while they investigate two adverse reactions that occurred on the first day of the country’s mass vaccination program. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein, Pool) As of 2:30 p.m. Saturday, there have been 1,464,697 positive cases of the coronavirus recorded in the state. The case count includes 1,438,579 Florida residents and 26,118 non-Florida residents. There are 22,804 Florida resident deaths reported, 346 non-resident deaths, and 65,401 hospitalizations at some point during illness, according to the Florida Department of Health. According to the CDC, Florida has recorded 22 positive cases of COVID-19 variants as of Friday. The type of variants is not specified on the table. Florida Department of Health and the CDC were previously investigating the evidence of the first known case of what is known as the UK COVID-19 variant on Dec. 31, 2020. *Numbers are released by the DOH every afternoon. STATEWIDE NUMBERS Total number of recorded cases: 1,464,697 (up from 1,449,252) Florida resident deaths: 22,804 (up from 22,666) Non-resident deaths: 346 (up from 345) Total deaths in state (Fla./non-Fla. residents combined): 23,150 (up from 23,011) 15,445 total new cases reported Saturday 138 new resident deaths reported Saturday 1 new non-resident death reported Saturday Percent positive for new cases in Fla. residents: 10.79% 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: 84,962 (up from 84,086) Deaths: 1,444 (up from 1,441) 876 total new cases reported Saturday 4 new deaths reported Saturday Lee County: 44,819 cases (up from 44,395) – 710 deaths (2 new) Collier County: 24,304 (up from 24,012) – 361 deaths (1 new) Charlotte County: 8,382 (up from 8,293) – 250 deaths (1 new) DeSoto County: 3,085 (up from 3,066) – 60 deaths Glades County: 803 (up from 800) – 11 deaths Hendry County: 3,569 (up from 3,520) – 52 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 VACCINE IN SWFL: COVID-19 vaccine schedules and information for SWFL VACCINE IN FLORIDA: State of Florida’s COVID-19 vaccine reports NOW HIRING: SWFL companies adding jobs FOOD PANTRIES: Harry Chapin mobile food pantry schedule, week of Jan. 4 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.