Three arrested in Collier County after robbery and chaseThe future of Legacy Harbour after Hurricane Ian recovery
Frontline workers suit up to face COVID-19. (CREDIT: WINK News) As of 2:30 p.m. Thursday, there have been 1,849,744 positive cases of the coronavirus recorded in the state. The case count includes 1,816,108 Florida residents and 33,636 non-Florida residents. There are 29,474 Florida resident deaths reported, 516 non-resident deaths, and 77,124 hospitalizations at some point during illness, according to the Florida Department of Health. According to the CDC, Florida has recorded 416 positive cases of the UK COVID-19 variant B.1.1.7, as of Feb. 16. The Florida Department of Health and the CDC began investigating the evidence of the first known case of the UK COVID-19 variant on Dec. 31, 2020. *Numbers are released by the DOH every afternoon. STATEWIDE NUMBERS Total number of recorded cases: 1,849,744 (up from 1,844,627) Florida resident deaths: 29,474 (up from 29,311) Non-resident deaths: 516 (up from 513) Total deaths in state (Fla./non-Fla. residents combined): 29,990 (up from 29,824) 5,117 total new cases reported Thursday 163 new resident deaths reported Thursday 3 new non-resident deaths reported Thursday Percent positive for new cases in Fla. residents: 6.4% 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: 104,754 (up from 104,473) Deaths: 1,786 (up from 1,784) 281 total new cases reported Thursday 4 new deaths reported Thursday Lee County: 56,126 cases (up from 56,006) – 859 deaths (-2) Collier County: 29,460 (up from 29,347) – 438 deaths (4 new) Charlotte County: 10,415 (up from 10,393) – 338 deaths DeSoto County: 3,624 (up from 3,612) – 71 deaths Glades County: 890 (up from 888) – 15 deaths Hendry County: 4,239 (up from 4,227) – 65 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 Feb. 15 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.