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News about coronavirus in Florida and around the world is constantly emerging. It's hard to stay on top of it all but Health News Florida can help. Our responsibility is to keep you informed, and to help discern what’s important for your family as you make what could be life-saving decisions.

Florida COVID-19 Deaths Reach New High For The Second Consecutive Day

COVID-19-related deaths reached a new high of 216 Wednesday. It was the second straight day that deaths recorded in a 24-hour period reached a their highest level since the pandemic began. Tuesday, the state reported 186 deaths.
Florida Department of Health
COVID-19-related deaths reached a new high of 216 Wednesday. It was the second straight day that deaths recorded in a 24-hour period reached a their highest level since the pandemic began. Tuesday, the state reported 186 deaths.

According to state health officials, more people died due to complications from COVID-19 since Tuesday's report than during any other 24-hour period since the pandemic began.

It was the second straight day that coronavirus-related deaths reached their highest levels since the pandemic began.

Wednesday’s report from the Florida Department of Health showed 216 deaths in the state since Tuesday’s report. The new figure brings the total number of people who have died due to the virus to 6,333.

The 186 deaths reported Tuesday was the previous high.

In the greater Tampa Bay region, health officials reported 52 people coronavirus-related deaths since Tuesday, including 15 in Manatee County; the highest number of deaths in a day for the county to date. The previous high of nine deaths in Manatee County was recorded on April 17 th.

Health officials also reported Wednesday that 451,423 people have tested positive for the coronavirus - an increase of 9,446 since Tuesday.

In the day since Tuesday’s report, 1,209 more positive tests were logged in the greater Tampa Bay region. It’s the 29 th straight day the number of cases in the region has been above 1,000.

The results for 88,252 tests came back Tuesday, and 12.26% of those tested for the first time were positive.

There have been 8,710 people hospitalized for COVID-19 related causes in the state at some point during their illness; 266 fewer than noted Tuesday.

ABOUT THE DATA:

The Florida Department of Health produces a daily update around 11 a.m. with information about COVID-19 cases and deaths that were reported over the previous 24 hours. Cases and deaths in the report may have happened days or weeks earlier, according to state officials. The state separately tracks cases and deaths that occurred on specific days on its dashboard and those totals are frequently updated.

Greater Tampa Bay region positive tests as of Wednesday, July 29:

  • Hillsborough: 28,268
  • Pinellas: 15,800
  • Polk: 12,059
  • Manatee: 8,187
  • Pasco: 6,101
  • Sarasota: 5,349
  • Hernando: 1,579

Florida COVID-19 daily total of positive tests/deaths for the last two weeks:

  • July 29: 9,446 /216
  • July 28: 9,230 /186
  • July 27: 8,892 /77
  • July 26: 9,344 /77
  • July 25: 12,199 /124
  • July 24: 12,444 /135
  • July 23: 10,249 /173
  • July 22: 9,785 /139
  • July 21: 9,444 /134
  • July 20: 10,343 /90
  • July 19: 12,478 /87
  • July 18: 10,328 /90
  • July 17: 11,466 /128
  • July 16: 13,965 /156

Copyright 2020 WUSF Public Media - WUSF 89.7

Lisa Peakes is the local host of NPR's All Things Considered on WUSF 89.7.