Thursday’s Coronavirus Updates: 6,640 new cases, 138 new deaths reported

Writer: Derrick Shaw
Published: Updated:
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 2:30 p.m. Thursday, there have been 1,892,301 positive cases of the coronavirus recorded in the state. The case count includes 1,857,670 Florida residents and 34,631 non-Florida residents. There are 30,478 Florida resident deaths reported, 540 non-resident deaths, and 78,744 hospitalizations at some point during illness, according to the Florida Department of Health.

According to the CDC, as of Feb. 23, Florida has recorded 489 positive cases of the UK COVID-19 variant B.1.1.7 and 1 case of the Brazil variant P.1.

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: 1,892,301 (up from 1,885,661)
Florida resident deaths: 30,478 (up from 30,340)
Non-resident deaths: 540 (up from 538)
Total deaths in state (Fla./non-Fla. residents combined): 31,018 (up from 30,878)

  • 6,640 new total new cases reported Thursday
  • 138 new resident deaths reported Thursday
  • 2 new non-resident deaths reported Thursday
  • Percent positive for new cases in Fla. residents: 5.23%
    • 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: 106,860 (up from 106,583)
Deaths: 1,840 (up from 1,835)

  • 277 total new cases reported Thursday
  • 5 new deaths reported Thursday

Lee County: 57,275 cases (up from 57,124) – 869 deaths
Collier County: 30,037 (up from 29,963) – 452 deaths (2 new)
Charlotte County: 10,622 (up from 10,596) – 359 deaths (1 new)
DeSoto County: 3,747 (up from 3,734) – 73 deaths (1 new)
Glades County: 900 (up from 899) – 15 deaths
Hendry County: 4,279 (up from 4,267) – 72 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

VACCINE IN SWFL: COVID-19 vaccine schedules and information for SWFL

VACCINE IN FLORIDA: State of Florida’s COVID-19 vaccine reports

NOW HIRINGSWFL companies adding jobs

FOOD PANTRIES: Harry Chapin mobile food pantry schedule, week of Feb. 22

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.

LINKFlorida 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.

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