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Florida coronavirus deaths reach 35,000

On average, the Florida Department of Health has reported about 6,277 infections and 53 deaths per day over the past seven days.
 
Florida’s positivity rate was about 10.3 percent Friday, according to Johns Hopkins University.
Florida’s positivity rate was about 10.3 percent Friday, according to Johns Hopkins University. [ Photo illustration by ASHLEY DYE and IVY CEBALLO | Times ]
Published April 16, 2021|Updated April 16, 2021

Florida reported 7,296 coronavirus cases and 93 deaths Friday, bringing the total number of deaths since the pandemic began to 35,000.

The state has seen 2,155,744 infections throughout the course of the more than year-long pandemic.

On average, the Florida Department of Health has reported about 6,277 infections and 53 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 106,000 tests on Thursday, reporting a daily positivity rate of about 6.8 percent.

Vaccinations: Florida has distributed at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine to 7,823,859 people, according to Friday’s report. There were 39,875 people who received their first shot of a two-dose vaccine on Thursday and 48,167 who completed a vaccine series. So far, 4,386,973 people have received both doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, while 2,912,888 people have received just one dose. A total of 523,998 people have received the one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine, an increase of 1,761 shots from the previous day.

The distribution of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine was paused Tuesday due to concerns about blood clots forming in patients, though some shots were still distributed, including at the Tampa Greyhound Track, which stopped giving the vaccine early Tuesday morning.

In Hillsborough County, 477,959 people have been vaccinated; in Pinellas, 382,182; in Pasco, 181,154; in Manatee, 156,377; in Polk, 206,221; in Hernando, 61,716; and in Citrus, 56,189.

Hospitalizations: As of Friday, Florida hospitals were treating 3,263 patients for COVID-19, including 747 people in the Tampa Bay region.

The health department reported 209 new admissions Friday, including 50 admissions locally.

About 20 percent of hospital beds and 20 percent of adult intensive care unit beds were available statewide. In Tampa Bay, about 18 percent of hospital beds and 17 percent of adult ICU beds were open.

Positivity: Florida’s positivity rate was about 10.3 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 testing is widespread enough to capture mild, asymptomatic and negative cases.

The District of Columbia and 23 states currently have a positivity rate below 5 percent.

Local numbers: Tampa Bay added 1,524 cases and 13 deaths Friday.

Polk County added nine deaths, while Manatee County added two deaths. Pasco and Hernando counties added one death each. Pinellas and Citrus removed one death each from their counts, meaning the deaths weren’t coronavirus-related or the people who died weren’t residents. There were no new deaths in Hillsborough County.

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Hillsborough County had a weekly average positivity rate of about 10 percent as of Friday. Pasco, Hernando and Polk counties had positivity rates of about 9 percent. Pinellas and Manatee counties had positivity rates of about 7 percent. Citrus had a positivity rate of about 6 percent.

As of the latest count, Hillsborough has 129,041 cases and 1,669 deaths, Pinellas has 76,172 cases and 1,595 deaths, Polk has 64,447 cases and 1,297 deaths, Manatee has 36,646 cases and 660 deaths, Pasco has 38,721 cases and 725 deaths, Hernando has 13,077 cases and 454 deaths, and Citrus has 10,658 cases and 436 deaths.

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

Is Florida’s coronavirus outbreak still growing?

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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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