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Florida adds 2,660 coronavirus cases, 111 deaths Friday

Nationwide, more than 7 million people have been infected, including President Trump
 
Nationwide, more than 7 million people have been infected, including President Trump.
Nationwide, more than 7 million people have been infected, including President Trump. [ Times ]
Published Oct. 2, 2020|Updated Oct. 5, 2020

Florida added 2,660 COVID-19 cases and 111 coronavirus-related deaths Friday.

Since March, there have been 711,804 confirmed coronavirus infections and 14,730 deaths reported in the state, according to the Florida Department of Health. Over the past seven days, Florida has seen about 92 deaths per day on average.

Nationwide, there have been more than 7 million cases and at least 207,600 deaths according to the New York Times. Early Friday morning, President Donald Trump announced he and first lady Melania Trump had both tested positive for the virus.

Hospitalizations: There were 2,061 people in Florida hospitals with a primary diagnosis of COVID-19, with 426 of them in the Tampa Bay area, according to the Agency for Health Care Administration.

There were 170 new hospitalizations reported Friday across the state, including 24 admissions in Tampa Bay.

Across Florida, about 25 percent of hospital beds were available. Around 23 percent of adult intensive care unit beds were open statewide. In the Tampa Bay region, around 22 percent of hospital beds and 16 percent of adult ICU beds were available.

Positivity: According to Johns Hopkins University, Florida’s positivity rate was 11 percent as on Friday. The Florida Department of Health calculates the average weekly positivity rate at 4.4 percent.

The health department does not include positive retests in its calculations. Experts have said it’s hard to say whether the department’s positivity rate would increase if it included positive retests. That’s because the state does not provide data on the number of people who tested positive for the first time and the number of positive retests.

The World Health Organization has said areas should maintain a positivity rate of five percent or lower before reopening.

Local numbers: Tampa Bay added 491 infections and 11 coronavirus-related deaths Friday.

Hillsborough County saw six deaths, while Pinellas added four deaths and Pasco added one death. There were no deaths reported in Hernando, Polk, Citrus and Manatee counties.

Over the past seven days, Hillsborough, Pasco, Manatee and Polk counties have averaged a positivity rate of about five percent. Citrus and Hernando counties have averaged a positivity rate of four percent while Pinellas County’s average positivity rate was about three percent.

There have been 42,565 confirmed cases in Hillsborough County and 22,347 cases in Pinellas. Polk County has reported 20,217 infections since March, while Manatee has seen 11,681 cases. Pasco County has had 9,411 cases and Hernando has had 3,215. Citrus County has had 2,798 cases.

How fast is the number of Florida COVID-19 cases growing?

Is Florida’s coronavirus outbreak still growing?

Florida coronavirus cases by age group

Doctors say older people are at a greater risk to developing severe symptoms from COVID-19, which makes Florida especially vulnerable.

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