Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
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 Positivity Rate Drops Below 5%

Leon County Judge John Cooper on June 30, 2022, in a screen grab from The Florida Channel.
Florida Department of Health
/
The Florida Channel
Leon County Judge John Cooper on June 30, 2022, in a screen grab from The Florida Channel.

The rate of positive COVID-19 tests reported by the state Saturday – reflecting the percent of people who tested positive for the first time – was 4.97% statewide. The results of 72,577 tests were returned Friday.

It’s the eleventh straight day the positivity rate was under 7.5%.

The Florida Department of Health reported Saturday that 3,197 people tested positive for the coronavirus since Friday.

That brings the total number of cases statewide to 619,003.

In the great Tampa Bay Region, another 555 new cases were reported Saturday.

The deaths of 150 people were recorded by the state since Friday’s report, bringing the total death toll statewide since the pandemic began to 11,249. It’s the fourth day out of five deaths exceeded 135.

Thirty deaths were reported in the greater Tampa Bay region, including 13 in Polk County.

According to the Department of Health, the deaths did not necessarily happen in the 24 hours since Friday's report, as some occurred previously and were disclosed to the state since the last report.

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 Saturday, August 29:

Hillsborough: 36,784
Pinellas: 19,813
Polk: 16,803
Manatee: 10,391
Pasco: 7,989
Sarasota: 7,162
Hernando: 2,560

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

  • August 29: 3,197 / 150
  • August 28: 3,815 / 88
  • August 27: 3,269 / 139
  • August 26: 3,220 / 155
  • August 25: 2,673 / 183
  • August 24: 2,258 / 72
  • August 23: 2,974 / 51
  • August 22: 4,311 / 107
  • August 21: 4,684 / 118
  • August 20: 4,555 / 117
  • August 19: 4,115 / 174
  • August 18: 3,838 / 219
  • August 17: 2,678 / 87
  • August 16: 3,779 / 107

Mark Schreiner has been the producer and reporter for "University Beat" on WUSF 89.7 FM since 2001 and on WUSF TV from 2007-2017.