Florida ends daily COVID-19 case and death reports

The Florida Department of Health will no longer release a daily COVID-19 report of state cases, deaths and hospitalizations. The agency on Friday instead began issuing a weekly report.

Gov. Ron DeSantis’ press secretary Christina Pushaw told The News Service of Florida on Friday that there is no need to keep issuing the daily reports. The weekly reports will be released each Friday.

“COVID-19 cases have significantly decreased over the past year as we have a less than 5 percent positivity rate, and our state is returning to normal, with vaccines widely available throughout Florida,” Pushaw said in an email.

The state had already stopped producing its daily updates on COVID-19 infection rates among staff and residents at long-term care facilities. The daily reports, which listed the names of facilities with infections, have been replaced by less-detailed weekly reports.

While Florida is ceasing its daily updates, a state of emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic remains in effect and is scheduled to expire on June 26. DeSantis has indicated that he does not plan to extend it any further.

By CHRISTINE SEXTON, News Service of Florida. Times staff writer Natalie Weber contributed to this report.

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