162 new cases of COVID-19 in Manatee County. Statewide count breaks 200,000

Another 162 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in Manatee County, according to the Florida Department of Health. They were among the 10,059 new cases reported statewide on Sunday, bringing the state’s total count to more than 200,000.

It was the third-highest daily count reported in Florida since the start of the pandemic.

The state has seen record levels of new cases in recent weeks coupled with residents testing positive for the virus at higher rates. On Saturday, the health department reported a record-breaking addition of 11,445 new cases statewide and 288 new cases in Manatee County.

Florida’s overall positivity rate since the coronavirus outbreak began is now 9.1 percent. The number has jumped by percentage points over the last weeks as people test positive for the virus at much higher rates. Among the most recent batch of nearly 70,000 statewide test results reported Sunday, the positivity rate was 17 percent.

A total of 29 new deaths in Florida were reported on Sunday. Only one new COVID-19-related death was reported in Manatee County over the past week. The local death toll since the outbreak began stands at 131 residents, or 3.5 percent of currently reported cases.

Of local deaths, 87 were among residents and staff at long-term care facilities, according to the state health department. Long-term care facilities previously accounted for about half of Manatee County’s total COVID-19 cases, but now account for just 13 percent. There have been 489 reported infections at those facilities.

The state health department’s case total since testing for the virus began is now at 200,111, including 3,731 deaths.

Manatee County cases from Saturday to Sunday:

• Cases increased from 3,554 to 3,716. (979 new cases were reported over the past week.)
• The death toll remained at 131. (One new death was reported over the last week.)

• The number of reported hospitalizations since the outbreak started is 284.

• The number of males infected is 1,781, compared to 1,900 females.

• The number of people tested increased to 46,183.

• Manatee County’s positivity rate was 8% as of Sunday, compared to 7% a week ago, 6.1% two weeks ago and 5.1% a month ago.

• 489 cases (13% of all cases) were among residents and staff of long-term care facilities in Manatee.

• Five cases have been reported at Manatee County correctional facilities.
• As of this week, 332 children have tested positive for COVID-19 in Manatee.

Sarasota cases from Saturday to Sunday:

• Cases increased from 2,059 to 2,160.
• Sarasota County’s test positivity rate was 5.3 percent.
• The death toll remained at 98.

Florida cases from Saturday to Sunday:

• Cases increased from 190,052 to 200,111. (59,036 cases were added over the past week.)
• The death toll increased from 3,702 to 3,731.
• The statewide positivity rate is 9.1% compared to 7.5% last week.

Surrounding counties:

• Desoto County cases increased from 733 to 748. The death toll remained at 10.
• Hardee County cases increased from 504 to 506. The death toll remained at three.
• Hillsborough County cases increased from 13,700 to 14,336. The death toll remained at 150.
• Pinellas County cases increased from 8,116 to 8,533. The death toll increased from 184 to 198.
  
  
• Polk County cases stand at 5,196. The death toll is at 105.

This story was originally published July 5, 2020 at 12:20 PM.