Over 10,000 new COVID-19 cases were reported Thursday, a new daily record that absolutely obliterates the previous record, which was set last Saturday, June 27, with 9,585 cases.
According to the Department of Health, Florida added a total of 10,109 positive cases, 67 new deaths and 325 hospitalizations. The state now has 169,106 confirmed coronavirus cases, 15,150 hospitalizations and a death toll to 3,617.
In Tampa Bay, Pinellas County reported eight new deaths, Hillsborough reported five, and Manatee and Sarasota each reported one.
So far, Hillsborough County leads the area with 12,376 confirmed cases, with Pinellas at 7,249, Manatee at 3,175, Pasco at 2,274, Sarasota at 1,707, Hernando at 451, and Citrus at 345.
The Florida Department of Health now says 2,033,794 people have been tested, which is roughly 9.5% of the state's population, and the current rate of positive new tests has increased to 14.59%, as of Wednesday.
Today's new case total marks the 30th straight day with new cases in Florida near or over 1,000 per day.
Coincidently, Vice President Mike Pence is visiting Tampa with Gov. Ron DeSantis today to discuss the state's fight against COVID-19.
This week, Florida Democrats slammed DeSantis for saying state is "not going back" on reopening, despite record spikes in new cases and increasing infections rates.
“For much of this pandemic, the governor's approach, like the President's (Donald Trump’s), has been hands-off,” Sen. Annette Taddeo, D-Miami, said. “We saw this in reporting transparency, in stay-at-home orders, in beach closings, in wearing masks and in bringing down these incredibly high numbers. It's like he's reluctant to take on a fight to stop the virus, always running after it instead of getting in front of it.”
Yesterday, the Harvard Global Health Institute released a new interactive COVID-19 risk level map, that showed all Tampa Bay counties "in the red," meaning local governments should institute stay-at-home orders immediately.
Meanwhile, DeSantis has still resisted calls to issue a statewide mask order. "To do police and put criminal penalties on that is something that is probably gonna, would backfire," said DeSantis last week.
Support local journalism in these crazy days. Our small but mighty team is working tirelessly to bring you up to the minute news on how Coronavirus is affecting Tampa and surrounding areas. Please consider making a one time or monthly donation to help support our staff. Every little bit helps.
Follow @cl_tampabay on Twitter to get the most up-to-date news + views. Subscribe to our newsletter, too.
