Manatee County adds 166 coronavirus cases. Local hospitals go into weekend near capacity
Manatee County has another 166 residents who have tested positive for the coronavirus just as the county’s three hospitals report they are running out of beds and staff to take care of patients.
The new local cases were among the more than 11,000 new cases announced on Friday by the Florida Department of Health. It was the second-highest daily statewide count since the start of the pandemic.
There are now 4,432 people who’ve tested positive in Manatee County since the onset of the pandemic. Statewide, the official tally of cases is now 244,151.
As of Friday afternoon, the county’s three general hospitals had a total of 14 beds, including five intensive-care beds, available, according to data they provided county officials.
The Florida Agency for Health Care Administration’s database. reported there were 101 beds available, but the database does not take into account the amount of staff available to care for patients.
Between the three hospitals, on Friday afternoon they said they had 115 patients who had tested positive for the coronavirus.
According to new data that the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration’s added to its online database on Friday afternoon, there were 84 people hospitalized in Manatee County who have a primary diagnosis of COVID-19.
The reason for the discrepancy was not clear.
As of Friday afternoon, the hospitals said this is what they had available:
- Manatee Memorial Hospital: two ICU beds, two non-ICU beds.
- Lakewood Ranch Medical Center: no ICU beds, , three non-ICU beds.
- Blake Medical Center: five ICU beds, nine non-ICU beds.
Beginning Saturday, Blake Medical Center will suspend any elective procedures that require a hospital stay.
A near daily record in Florida
Friday’s addition of 11,433 new COVID-19 cases in Florida was just shy of the record set on July 4 with 11,458 new cases.
The state also reported another 93 deaths because of COVID-19. The official death toll now stands at 4,102.
No new deaths were reported in Manatee County, where the death toll remains at 138.
The upward trend in 911 calls involving suspected COVID-19 cases continues, meanwhile.
On Thursday, Manatee County EMS reported 24 calls involving COVID-19. They had been averaging eight to 10 calls per day up until the recent surge in cases.
The overall positive test rate continues to rise locally and statewide. It is is now 8.8% in Manatee County and 10.1% statewide. The overall median age remains at 39 years old.
Surrounding counties:
- Sarasota County: Cases increased from 2,431 to 2,548. The death toll remains at 100.
- Desoto County: Cases increased from 799 to 809. The death toll remains at 11.
- Hardee County: Cases increased from 548 to 595. The death toll rose from three to four.
- Hillsborough County cases increased from 16,666 to 17,662. The death toll rose from 182 to 186.
- Pinellas County cases increased from to 9,826 to 10,293. The death toll rose from 221 to 223.
This story was originally published July 10, 2020 at 11:14 AM.
