More than 630 kids have tested positive for coronavirus in Manatee County, state says

An additional 165 children in Manatee County have tested positive for COVID-19, according to the Florida Department of Health.

In a report dated Friday, the health department said a total of 633 children have tested positive for the novel coronavirus responsible for the COVID-19 respiratory disease. A week earlier, 468 people 17 and younger had tested positive, according to the health department.

A total of 4,770 children have been tested in Manatee since the start of the pandemic, for a positivity rate of 13.3.%. A week earlier, the positivity rate was 43.7%. The lower rate appears to be the result of increased testing of children, as the number of kids tested is listed as increasing by 3,700 in a week.

By comparison, the county’s overall positivity rate as of Saturday was 9.9%. The county has a total of 6,280 cases, as of Saturday, meaning at least 10.1% of those who have tested positive in Manatee County are children.

Statewide, a total of 23,170 children have been infected with the coronavirus, or 13.4.% of those tested. In Florida, 6.9% of those who have tested positive are children.

Four children have died.

In Sarasota County, a total of237 children had tested positive, as of a Friday, up from 155 a week earlier. A total of 2,682 children have been tested, for a positivity rate of 8.8%, down from 28.3%. The number of children tested in Sarasota increased from 547 a week earlier to 2,682.

Miami-Dade County has the most children who have tested positive for COVID-19 — 4,227. or 17.7% of those who have been tested.

This story was originally published July 18, 2020 at 2:44 PM.