Florida is now considered the world’s epicenter for the coronavirus pandemic, and on Thursday the state logged a record 120 deaths, bringing the overall total to 4,111.
The previous single-day record was 113 deaths, which occurred back in May, shortly after Gov. DeSantis shifted the state to Phase 2 reopening. With today's new numbers, Florida is now averaging about 56 COVID-19 deaths daily.
As of Thursday, Florida added 8,935 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the statewide total to 232,718, and 4,009 deaths. The state’s positivity rate is now 18.39%, which is also the highest on record.
The Health of Department says Florida reached a new milestone with hospitalizations, as well, adding a record single-day number of 411. The previous record for hospitalizations was 400.
Locally, Hillsborough County leads the Tampa Bay area with 16,666 total cases, with Pinellas at 9,826, Manatee at 4,266, Pasco at 3,330, Sarasota at 2,431, and Hernando at 708.
Last weekend, four hospitals in the Tampa Bay area were at maximum capacity, including Palms of Pasadena Hospital, St. Petersburg General Hospital, Morton Plant Hospital in Clearwater and AdventHealth North Pinellas in Tarpon Springs, reports the Tampa Bay Times. As of yesterday, a total of 52 intensive care units in Florida had reached capacity and another 17 hospitals ran out of regular beds, according to data released by the state’s Agency for Health Care Administration.
Despite the new records, and the state extending the emergency order, Florida Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran ordered Florida schools to reopen for in-person instruction next month, and Disney World in Orlando reopened to passholders today.
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This article appears in Jul 9-15, 2020.