Florida sets record with 156 new COVID-19 deaths. Four were Manatee County residents
Four Manatee County residents are among the 156 deaths caused by COVID-19 announced on Thursday morning — the highest death count reported on a single day in Florida since the start of the pandemic.
Florida’s official death toll now stands at 4,677. In Manatee County, the official toll is now 143.
The Florida Department of Health also announced 13,965 new coronavirus infections. Statewide, infections now total 315,775.
In Manatee County, there were 350 new positive cases reported, bringing the county’s tally to 5,914.
Hospitalizations also continue to rise in Manatee County, with patients positive for the coronavirus growing from 120 to 126.
The numbers of new cases were the second-highest daily counts reported since the start of the pandemic for both Florida and Manatee County.
Deaths reported Thursday occurred in Brevard, Collier, Miami-Dade, Desoto, Escambia, Flagler, Hernando, Hillsborough, Jackson, Lake, Manatee, Marion, Martin, Okaloosa, Orange, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Santa Rosa, Seminole, St. Johns, St. Lucie and Sumter counties.
More than one third of the deaths reported occurred in Hillsborough or Pinellas counties. Thursday marked the third day in a row that Pinellas County reported a significant number of COVID-19 deaths — 82 deaths total over the three days.
Space opens up in hospitals
Manatee County’s three general hospitals were reporting 17 beds available, including 10 ICU beds in the data they now report to the county daily. Patients counts. The hospitals have admitted a total of 35 patients since Wednesday.
Manatee Memorial Hospital had 66 COVID-19 positive patients, five available non-ICU beds and no available ICU beds. Lakewood Ranch Medical Center had 26 COVID-19 positive patients, two available non-ICU beds and three available ICU beds. Blake Medical Center had 34 COVID-19 positive patients, no available non-ICU beds and seven available ICU beds.
The county, unlike the Florida Agency for Healthcare Administration, has begun tracking how many beds the hospitals have the staff for. On Wednesday, all three hospitals said they were at capacity.
Overall, positivity rates rose again with the latest new cases, now 11.2% statewide and 9.6% locally. Thursday’s new cases were among 3,065 test results reported locally, with a positivity rate of 11.4%.
Surrounding counties:
- Sarasota County cases increased from 3,447 to 3,724. The death toll remained at 100.
- Desoto County cases increased from 997 to 1,015. The death toll rose from 12 to 13.
- Hardee County cases increased from 633 to 649. The death toll remained at four.
- Hillsborough County cases increased from 21,018 to 21,557. The death toll rose from 192 to 232.
- Pinellas County cases increased from 11,442 to 12,368. The death toll rose from 278 to 295.
This story was originally published July 16, 2020 at 11:06 AM.
