Florida adds 5,245 coronavirus cases, 54 deaths Friday

Florida logged 5,245 coronavirus cases and 54 deaths Friday, according to the Florida Department of Health.

Since March, 832,625 coronavirus infections have been recorded in Florida. According to the weekly average, about 4,630 cases are announced per day, which is close to the average the state saw in mid-August. Overall, the weekly case average was down slightly on Friday compared to previous days this week.

The state also announced 54 deaths, bringing the weekly death average down to about 42 people announced dead per day. Over the course of the pandemic, 17,224 people have died in Florida.

Hospitalizations: More than 2,500 people across the state are in the hospital with a primary diagnosis of coronavirus, according to the Agency for Health Care Administration. Just under 550 are in the Tampa Bay area.

The number of people hospitalized has increased in recent weeks, up from fewer than 2,100 people seeking treatment.

About 25 percent of hospital beds and intensive care unit beds were available statewide. In Tampa Bay, about 24 percent of hospital beds and 28 percent of ICU beds were available.

The number of cases that led to a hospitalization increased by 198 admissions.

Positivity: Florida’s average weekly positivity rate is about 7 percent, according to Johns Hopkins University. It is one of 36 states not meeting the recommended 5 percent or below guideline set by the World Health Organization.

When positivity is too high, it can indicate there isn’t enough widespread testing to capture mild and asymptomatic cases. Florida’s positivity rate has been on the rise in the past two weeks, jumping from 5 percent to 7 percent.

Local numbers: Tampa Bay added 991 coronavirus cases and eight deaths Friday.

Three deaths were recorded in Citrus County, two each were in Hillsborough and Polk and one was in Pinellas. There were no new deaths reported in Pasco, Manatee and Hernando counties.

Citrus and Pasco lead the area with an 8 percent positivity rate, followed by Polk, Manatee and Hillsborough at 7 percent, Pinellas at 6 percent and Hernando at 5 percent.

As of the latest counts, Hillsborough has 50,127 cases and 835 deaths; Pinellas has 27,192 cases and 835 deaths; Polk has 23,879 cases and 639 deaths; Manatee has 13,944 cases and 332 deaths; Pasco has 11,558 cases and 246 deaths; Hernando has 3,946 cases and 178 deaths; and Citrus has 3,440 cases and 140 deaths.

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