Florida adds 11,543 coronavirus cases, 215 deaths Friday

Florida added 11,543 coronavirus cases and 215 deaths Friday, bringing the death toll statewide to 27,913.

The total number of infections recorded in Florida reached 1,763,873.

On average, the state health department has reported 9,329 infections and 175 deaths per day this week. It can take officials up to two weeks to confirm and report a coronavirus-related death, meaning the number of deaths added does not necessarily reflect the number of people who died the previous day.

The Florida Department of Health processed more than 189,000 tests Thursday, with a daily positivity rate of about 5.8 percent.

Vaccinations: Florida has vaccinated 1,894,209 people, according to Friday’s report, with 69,267 people vaccinated on Thursday. So far, 554,502 people have received both doses needed for immunity, while 1,339,707 people have received just one dose.

In Hillsborough County, 87,079 people have been vaccinated; in Pinellas, 86,470; in Pasco, 37,014; in Manatee, 30,556; in Polk, 39,886; in Hernando, 15,875; and in Citrus, 15,691.

Hospitalizations: As of Friday, Florida hospitals were treating 5,425 patients for COVID-19, including 1,048 people in the Tampa Bay region.

The health department reported 341 new admissions Friday, including 54 admissions locally.

About 21 percent of hospital beds and 17 percent of adult intensive care unit beds were available statewide as of Friday. In Tampa Bay, about 19 percent of hospital beds and 17 percent of adult ICU beds were open.

Positivity: Florida’s positivity rate was about 9.03 percent Friday, according to Johns Hopkins University.

Before reopening, states should maintain a positivity rate of 5 percent or less for at least two weeks, according to the World Health Organization. A positivity rate of 5 percent or less indicates that testing is widespread enough to capture mild, asymptomatic and negative cases.

Nineteen states, Guam and the District of Columbia currently have a positivity rate below 5 percent.

Local numbers: Tampa Bay added 1,898 cases and 48 deaths Friday.

Pinellas County added 18 deaths, while Polk County reported 17 deaths. Hillsborough County added 11 deaths. Pasco and Manatee counties added one death each. There were no new deaths in Hernando or Citrus counties.

Polk and Citrus counties had weekly average positivity rates of 10 percent. Hillsborough, Pasco and Hernando counties reported positivity rates of 8 percent. Pinellas and Manatee had positivity rates of 6 percent.

As of the latest count, Hillsborough has 102,944 cases and 1,367 deaths; Pinellas has 61,001 cases and 1,342 deaths; Polk has 52,029 cases and 1,015 deaths; Manatee has 29,230 cases and 513 deaths; Pasco has 30,396 cases and 583 deaths; Hernando has 10,218 cases and 357 deaths; and Citrus has 8,921 cases and 358 deaths.

Keep up with Tampa Bay’s top headlines

Subscribe to our free DayStarter newsletter

We’ll deliver the latest news and information you need to know every morning.

Loading...

You’re all signed up!

Want more of our free, weekly newsletters in your inbox? Let’s get started.

Explore all your options

• • •

Tampa Bay Times coronavirus coverage

HOW CORONAVIRUS IS SPREADING IN FLORIDA: Find the latest numbers for your county, city or zip code.

VACCINES Q & A: Have coronavirus vaccine questions? We have answers, Florida.

FACE MASKS: Read the latest on guidelines, tips for comfort and long-term wear

GET THE DAYSTARTER MORNING UPDATE: Sign up to receive the most up-to-date information.

THE CORONAVIRUS SCRAPBOOK: We collected your stories, pictures, songs, recipes, journals and more to show what life has been like during the pandemic.

A TRIBUTE TO THE FLORIDIANS TAKEN BY THE CORONAVIRUS: They were parents and retirees, police officer and doctors, imperfect but loved deeply.

HAVE A TIP?: Send us confidential news tips

We’re working hard to bring you the latest news on the coronavirus in Florida. This effort takes a lot of resources to gather and update. If you haven’t already subscribed, please consider buying a print or digital subscription.