Florida records more than 1,300 new coronavirus cases Wednesday

On Wednesday, the state announced more than 1,300 new positive coronavirus cases, more than double the previous day’s set of new recorded cases.

Even Tuesday’s new recorded data, an additional death count of 70, was a marked increase from the two days before, where only nine deaths were recorded.

There are now 58,764 positive cases in Florida, and 2,650 deaths. Five new deaths were recorded in the Tampa Bay area, with most coming from Hillsborough County.

What’s the picture across the state?

Statewide, 37 new deaths were recorded, bringing the total to 2,650. Just over 10,500 people have been hospitalized, and more than a million have been tested.

Of the population tested, 5.4 percent of the tests have come back positive. The positive test rate has steadily dropped as more and more people gain access to testing, which was difficult to access in the early months of Florida’s coronavirus spread.

Almost half of the state’s deaths can be linked to long-term care facilities, which house and tend to the population most vulnerable to coronavirus. As of Wednesday, 1,306 deaths were residents or staff in long-term care facilities.

Tampa Bay area has had significant and deadly coronavirus outbreaks in long-term care facilities. In Manatee, 65 people who died could be linked to these care centers, in Pinellas another 65 people and in Hillsborough another 52.

What’s the picture in Tampa Bay?

The death toll in Tampa Bay rose by five on Wednesday, with three new reported deaths in Hillsborough County and two in Polk County.

There were 188 new reported cases, with the bulk coming from Hillsborough County, which reported 99 new cases.

As of the latest counts, Hillsborough has 2,384 cases and 87 deaths; Pinellas has 1,361 cases and 91 deaths; Manatee has 1,110 cases and 100 deaths; Polk has 1,074 cases and 60 deaths; Pasco has 398 cases and 16 deaths; Citrus has 122 cases and 12 deaths; and Hernando has 120 cases and six deaths.

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