Another COVID-19 death in Manatee County. 70 more deaths statewide

Another person who tested positive for COVID-19 has died in Manatee County, according to the Florida Department of Health.

The state health department also reported 17 new cases of the disease in Manatee.

To date, 1,074 positive cases and 98 COVID-19-related deaths have been reported in Manatee County. The county’s first reported case was March 1, and it was one of the first two cases confirmed in Florida.

Long-term care facilities continue to account for a significant share of Manatee’s cases of the disease and related deaths. A total of 423 cases have been reported among residents and staff of the facilities, and 65 of those infected have died. At least 20 facilities have been affected, according to the health department, with deaths reported at seven.

Nearly 19,000 people have now been tested for the virus in Manatee County, according to the state health department, with 5.7 percent testing positive.

Statewide, another 617 cases of COVID-19 were reported on Tuesday, as well as a spike in reported fatalities as 70 additional deaths were confirmed around the state. The state death toll now stands at 2,530.

The test positive rate in Florida is 5.5 percent.