Florida adds 5,556 coronavirus cases, 70 deaths Tuesday

Florida reported 5,556 coronavirus cases and 70 deaths Tuesday. The total number of reported statewide deaths is now 34,434.

The state has seen 2,090,862 cases of COVID-19 as the pandemic enters its 13th month.

On average, the Florida Department of Health has reported about 5,489 infections and 64 deaths per day over the past seven days. 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 health department processed more than 79,282 tests on Monday, reporting a daily positivity rate of about 6.9 percent.

Vaccinations: Florida has vaccinated nearly 6.5 million people, according to Tuesday’s report. There were 31,751 people who received their first shot of a two-dose vaccine on Monday and 56,768 who completed a vaccine series. So far, 3,485,081 people have received both doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, while 2,667,663 people have received just one dose. A total of 284,586 people have received the one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

In Hillsborough County, 376,478 people have been vaccinated; in Pinellas, 322,242; in Pasco, 147,775; in Manatee, 133,713; in Polk, 170,668; in Hernando, 53,190; and in Citrus, 49,865.

Hospitalizations: As of Tuesday, Florida hospitals were treating 3,011 patients for COVID-19, including 707 people in the Tampa Bay region.

The health department reported 276 new admissions Tuesday, including 47 admissions locally.

About 23 percent of hospital beds and 24 percent of adult intensive care unit beds were available statewide. In Tampa Bay, about 22 percent of hospital beds and 22 percent of adult ICU beds were open.

Positivity: Florida’s positivity rate was about 9 percent Tuesday, 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 testing is widespread enough to capture mild, asymptomatic and negative cases.

The District of Columbia and 28 states currently have a positivity rate below 5 percent.

Local numbers: Tampa Bay added 1,079 cases and 24 deaths Tuesday.

Pasco and Pinellas counties each subtracted one death from their previous totals on Tuesday, while Manatee County’s death total remained the same from Monday. Citrus added two deaths, Hillsborough added three and Hernando added four. Polk County reported the most deaths in the region with 17.

Hillsborough and Hernando counties had weekly average positivity rates of about nine percent as of Tuesday. Pasco and Polk counties had positivity rates of about eight percent. Pinellas and Manatee counties had a positivity rate of roughly seven, while Citrus had a positivity rate of about five percent.

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

As of the latest count, Hillsborough has 124,167 cases and 1,645 deaths, Pinellas has 73,591 cases and 1,578 deaths, Polk has 62,197 cases and 1,295 deaths, Manatee has 35,411 cases and 648 deaths, Pasco has 37,136 cases and 704 deaths, Hernando has 12,649 cases and 453 deaths, and Citrus has 10,438 cases and 439 deaths.

• • •

Tampa Bay Times coronavirus coverage

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

NEED A VACCINE? Here's how to find one in the Tampa Bay area and Florida.

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

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

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

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.