40 more people in Manatee County test positive for coronavirus. Infections surpass 1,500
An additional 40 people have tested positive for the coronavirus in Manatee County. They are among the 2,610 new cases across the state reported by the Florida Department of Health on Wednesday.
Another person has also died in Manatee County from COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus. That death is among 25 new deaths that were reported across the state, in Broward, Columbia, Miami-Dade, Hendry, Hillsborough, Jackson, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pinellas, St. Lucie and Volusia counties..
A total of 117 people have now died from the disease locally, while statewide there have now been 3,018 deaths.
Manatee County’s total infections now total 1,523. Statewide, a total of 82,719 have tested positive for the virus.
Locally the cumulative percent positive rate remained unchanged since Tuesday at 5.3%. The state’s rate increased by one tenth of a percentage point to 5.6%.
Of the 517 tests results reported in Manatee County on Wednesday, 7.7% were positive. There have been 270 new cases reported in Manatee County since Friday.
During a press conference late Tuesday afternoon, Gov. Ron DeSantis insisted that the rise of new cases was because of increased testing.
Questioned about slowing the reopening of the state economy or possible new lockdowns, DeSantis was adamant saying, “We’re not rolling back.”
In Sarasota, there were 14 new cases reported, making 803 people that have now tested positive for the virus. Sarasota County has a much lower positive rate, 2.8% . The death toll stands at 92.
Hillsborough County had 244 new cases reported, making a total of 4,273 people who have been infected with the coronavirus. The death toll there is 104.
In Pinellas County, 161 new cases were reported, making 2,684 that have been infected. Three more people have died from COVID-19, taking the death toll to 110.
This story was originally published June 17, 2020 at 11:24 AM.
