Florida reported 4,504 coronavirus cases and 73 deaths Thursday, bringing the total number of deaths since the pandemic began to 36,257.
The state has seen 2,258,433 infections throughout the course of the more than year-long pandemic.
On average, the Florida Department of Health has reported about 4,317 infections and 69 deaths per day over the past seven days. The caseload average marked the lowest daily average case number since the beginning of November.
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 92,000 tests on Wednesday, reporting a daily positivity rate of about 4.99 percent.
Vaccinations: Florida has distributed at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine to 9,101,152 people, according to Thursday’s report. There were 12,722 people who received their first shot of a two-dose vaccine on Wednesday and 40,170 who completed a vaccine series.
Of the roughly 9.1 million people who have received a vaccine in Florida, about 6.7 million have completed a vaccine series.
In Hillsborough County, 561,509 people have been vaccinated; in Pinellas, 434,140; in Pasco, 206,649; in Manatee, 172,771; in Polk, 245,228; in Hernando, 68,880; and in Citrus, 60,834.
Hospitalizations: As of Thursday, Florida hospitals were treating 2,918 patients for COVID-19, including 636 people in the Tampa Bay region.
The health department reported 231 new admissions Thursday, including 66 admissions locally.
About 20 percent of hospital beds and 20 percent of adult intensive care unit beds were available statewide. 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 7.9 percent Thursday, 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 27 states currently have a positivity rate below 5 percent.
Local numbers: Tampa Bay added 1,102 cases and 16 deaths Thursday.
Hillsborough County added seven deaths and Pinellas reported four. Polk and Citrus counties added two deaths each, while Hernando added one. There were no new deaths in Pasco and Manatee counties.
Hillsborough County’s weekly average positivity rate was about 8 percent. Pasco, Hernando, Polk, Manatee and Citrus counties had positivity rates of roughly 7 percent. Pinellas County’s positivity rate was about 4 percent.
As of the latest count, Hillsborough has 137,314 cases and 1,754 deaths, Pinellas has 79,544 cases and 1,646 deaths, Polk has 68,632 cases and 1,337 deaths, Manatee has 38,640 cases and 684 deaths, Pasco has 41,342 cases and 762 deaths, Hernando has 13,966 cases and 470 deaths, and Citrus has 11,093 cases and 450 deaths.
Keep up with Tampa Bay’s top headlines
Subscribe to our free DayStarter newsletter
You’re all signed up!
Want more of our free, weekly newsletters in your inbox? Let’s get started.
Explore all your optionsIs Florida’s coronavirus outbreak still growing?
• • •
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.