Manatee County adds 289 cases of COVID-19. Residents are testing positive at a higher rate

Another 289 Manatee County residents have tested positive for COVID-19, according to the Florida Department of Health.

They were among 12,478 new cases confirmed statewide on Sunday. It was the fourth-highest number of new cases reported in Florida since the coronavirus outbreak began.

In Manatee County, the count of positive residents since testing began now stands at 6,569. The death toll remained at 143 on Sunday.

The rate at which people are testing positive for the virus locally continues to rise.

In early June, the rate at which people in Manatee County were testing positive for COVID-19 hit a low of around 5%. It has since steadily increased. On Sunday, it rose to 10% — just outside of the state health department’s “target range” of below 10 percent.

The statewide positivity rate is now 11.6%. To date, 350,047 positive cases have been recorded in Florida.

The state health department reported 87 additional COVID-19-related deaths among Florida residents on Sunday, raising the state’s death toll to more than 5,000. The statewide death toll is now at 4,982 Florida residents and 109 non-residents.

Manatee County cases from Saturday to Sunday:

• The number of cases increased from 6,280 to 6,569. (1,457 new cases were reported over the past week.)
• The death toll remains at 143. (Five new deaths were reported over the past week.)
• The number of males infected is 3,077 compared to 3,354 females.
• The cumulative number of COVID-19 hospitalizations is 405, including 49 reported over the last week.
• The number of people tested is now 65,474 (about 9,800 over the past week.)
• Manatee County’s overall positivity rate increased from 9.9% to 10%. That compares to 9.2% last week, 8% two weeks ago, 7% three weeks ago and 6.1% a month ago.

• 544 cases (8% of all cases) and 91 deaths were among residents and staff of long-term care facilities in Manatee.

• Nine cases have been reported at Manatee County correctional facilities.

• As of this week, 633 children have tested positive for COVID-19 in Manatee.

Florida cases from Saturday to Sunday:

• Cases statewide increased from 337,568 to 350,047. (More than 80,000 new cases were reported over the past week.)

• The cumulative statewide positivity rate is at 11.6% (compared to 10.5% a week ago).

Surrounding counties:

• Sarasota County cases increased from 4,065 to 4,245. The death toll rose from 100 to 106.
  
  
• Desoto County cases increased from 1,055 to 1,067. The death toll remained at 13.
• Hardee County cases increased from 694 to 706. The death toll remained at four.
• Hillsborough County cases increased from 23,103 to 23,706. The death toll rose from 233 to 235.
• Pinellas County cases increased from 13,019 to 13,482. The death toll rose from 310 to 314.

This story was originally published July 19, 2020 at 12:51 PM.