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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 Adds 5,610 New Coronavirus Cases Tuesday

Overall, new coronavirus cases have been steadily declining, although the state reported a slight uptick Tuesday compared to Monday.

Following a steady decline of new coronavirus cases, the state reported a slight bump in both cases and deaths since Monday.

The Florida Department of Health recorded 5,610 positive tests on Tuesday, up 1,459 from the day before. Florida has typically been adding 5,000 to 7,000 new cases a day in recent weeks.

The last time Florida recorded more than 10,000 cases in a single day was Feb. 5.

Florida has seen 1,878,533 total cases since the start of the pandemic, compared to the 28,234,691 nationwide.

But the number of deaths reported daily hasn't changed much since the holiday surge. The state added another 154 deaths to its COVID-19 toll on Tuesday.

Death figures typically lag a few weeks behind cases, so it’s possible the numbers will start to decline later this month if downward trends for new positive tests continue.

Of the 501,947 people who have died nationally, Florida’s share is 30,749.

While hospitalizations in Florida have declined significantly in the new year, they rose slightly for the first time in a week on Monday, and again on Tuesday.

There were 4,198 people hospitalized in the state with a primary diagnosis of COVID-19 on Tuesday afternoon, up 23 from the day before.

More than 2.7 million people have received a coronavirus vaccine in Florida.

About 1.4 million people statewide have received both doses.

State Totals (as of Tuesday, Feb. 23):

  • Positive Tests – 1,878,533

  • Deaths – 30,749


Daily Changes:

  • State: Positive Tests – 5,610 | Deaths – 154
  • Greater Tampa Bay Region: Positive Tests – 1,034 | Deaths - 29


Daily Testing (statewide):

  • Tests Received – 102,203 | Positivity Rate – 6.5%


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.

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

  • Feb. 21: 5,610/154
  • Feb. 22: 4,151/161
  • Feb. 21: 5,065/95
  • Feb. 20: 7,280/125
  • Feb. 19: 6,683/224
  • Feb. 18: 5,117/166
  • Feb. 17: 7,342/165
  • Feb. 16: 6,297/225
  • Feb. 15: 3,615/159
  • Feb. 14: 5,436/96
  • Feb. 13: 7,515/118
  • Feb. 12: 7,617/190
  • Feb. 11: 8,525/180
  • Feb. 10: 7,537/165

Copyright 2021 WUSF Public Media - WUSF 89.7

Daylina Miller is a multimedia reporter for WUSF and Health News Florida, covering health in the Tampa Bay area and across the state.