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Florida COVID-19 Daily Deaths Again Up Over 200; Polk County Sees Record Number Of Deaths

WUSF | By Lisa Peakes

Published August 18, 2020 at 1:06 PM EDT

State health officials recorded 219 deaths due to COVID-19 statewide since Monday's daily report. Polk County recorded 27 deaths in a 24-hour period; a single-day high.

Following two days where the death toll due to COVID-19 in Florida was below 110, state health officials recorded the deaths of 219 people since Monday's report.

That brings the total deaths due to COVID-19 in the state to 9,758.

In the greater Tampa Bay region, the deaths of 50 people were recorded since Monday's report, and over half of them, 27, were in Polk County.

It was the highest number of deaths in a 24-hour period for Polk County since the start of the pandemic. The previous high of 16 was recorded on July 28.

The deaths were recorded by the state since Monday's report, but may have happened days or weeks earlier.

The state had reported 87 deaths Monday and 107 Sunday.

Tuesday’s report from the Florida Department of Health showed an increase of 3,838 people testing positive for the coronavirus in the state since Monday's report, bringing the total to 579,932.

In the greater Tampa Bay region, there were 590 new positive tests.

Of the 56,884 tests returned to the state Monday, 7.91 % of those tested for the first time were positive. The positivity rate has been below ten percent since Wednesday.

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 Tuesday, August 18:

Hillsborough: 34,605
Pinellas: 18,876
Polk: 15,607
Manatee: 9,891
Pasco: 7,527
Sarasota: 6,764
Hernando: 2,284

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

August 18: 3,838 /219
August 17: 2,678 /87
August 16: 3,779 /107
August 15: 6,352 /204
August 14: 6,148 /228
August 13: 6,236 /148
August 12: 8,109 /212
August 11: 5,831/276
August 10: 4,155/91
August 9: 6,229 / 77
August 8: 8,502 / 182
August 7: 7,686 / 180
August 6: 7,650 / 120
August 5: 5,409 / 225

Florida COVID-19 Daily Deaths Again Up Over 200; Polk County Sees Record Number Of Deaths

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