Florida posts two-day total of 17,344 new COVID-19 cases along with 109 deaths
The state of Florida reported 17,344 new COVID-19 cases on Friday after combining two days of figures to account for Thanksgiving Day and the day before. The Department of Health also reported 109 new deaths among the state’s residents,
The new cases lifted the state’s total to 979,020, according to a department dashboard. The resident death toll is now 18,363. Five new non-resident deaths were added to a non-resident toll of 233.
The new cases and deaths were announced amid concerns by local officials that the weekend could dramatically add to rising case totals in ensuing weeks as travelers flocked to South Florida airports and shoppers headed for malls in search of holiday deals.
All around the region, many mall and store owners installed their own social distancing, mask requirements and capacity limits to cope with an annual Black Friday discount shopping event that this year took on a decidedly different look. Millions of consumers opted to stay home and buy their holiday gifts online instead of heading for the stores.
Many of those who did venture out wore masks. On Thanksgiving Day, a number of retailers shut their doors. On Friday, some activated curbside pickup plans to minimize checkout lines.
In a Thanksgiving message to City of Fort Lauderdale residents this week, Mayor Dean Trantalis urged citizens to keep their guards up. “I encourage you to continue to take precautions and follow best practices to enjoy a safe and healthy holiday,” he said.
The state did not post any COVID-19 case numbers on Thanksgiving Day, electing to resume its daily reports on Friday.
In five of the last seven days, Florida has reported more than 8,000 new cases — an upward trend that hasn’t happened since early July.
On Tuesday, Gov. Ron DeSantis extended an executive order banning local governments from fining citizens and businesses who breached local rules designed to curb the virus. On Sept. 25, he barred city and county governments from enforcing mask laws or restaurant capacity limits.
Under the order, local governments cannot collect fines or impose restrictions on businesses without first justifying economic and health reasons.
The curtailing of restrictions is particularly detrimental to South Florida officials, who have called on the governor to relent. The number of COVID-19 cases reported by Broward, Palm Beach and Miami-Dade counties account for 40% of the total number of cases the state has reported since the pandemic began in March.
Since then, 961,676 Florida residents and non-residents have been infected. The total death toll, including non-residents, stands at 18,482.
Deaths
Statewide: The state’s pandemic data report shows a total of 18,263 Floridians have died from COVID-19. In addition, 233 non-residents have died, bringing the total number of deaths to 18,482.
Florida has the fourth-highest total of COVID-19 deaths among the states, behind New York, Texas and California, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Florida’s death rate since the pandemic began ranks 14th in the nation, tied with South Carolina, at 85 deaths per 100,000 people, the CDC reports. That’s higher than the national rate of 79 deaths per 100,000.
Long-term-care facilities: At least 7,212 residents and staff have died at nursing homes and assisted-living centers throughout Florida as of Wednesday. That’s another 24 deaths since Tuesday.
Miami-Dade County reported the highest number of deaths at long-term-care facilities, with 860. Palm Beach County was second with 752. Broward has reported 466 deaths.
Hospitalizations
As of 3 p.m. Wednesday, 3,723 people were hospitalized in Florida with a primary diagnosis of COVID-19, according to the state Agency for Health Care Administration. That’s a decrease of 57 patients in 24 hours.
In South Florida, Broward County reported 396, up by nine; Palm Beach County had 259, down by 11; and Miami-Dade had the most in the state with 548, an increase of 13.
Hospitalizations hit a peak in late July of about 9,500 patients statewide.
Since the pandemic began, 54,133 residents have been hospitalized for the disease, according to the state health department.
National and global view
U.S.: Nearly 12.9 million people in the United States have been infected with the novel coronavirus and 263,525 have died as of early Friday, according to Johns Hopkins University’s COVID-19 dashboard.
World: More than 61.1 million people have tested positive for COVID-19 and 1.41 million people have died from the disease, Johns Hopkins says. The U.S. has had the most COVID-19 cases and deaths of any country. The U.S. has 4.3% of the world’s population, but 20.83% of the world’s cases and 18.5% of the world’s deaths.
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