Manatee resident among newest 135 COVID-19 deaths. Florida surpasses 400,000 cases
A Manatee County resident is among the 135 new COVID-19 deaths reported in Florida on Friday, according to the latest data released by the Florida Department of Health.
The local death toll in Manatee County now stands at 153.
Across the state, 5,653 residents have died from COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the coronavirus. The death of another non-resident was also reported, making a total of 115 since the pandemic got underway.
In Manatee County, there were 268 new cases of people who have tested positive for the coronavirus. Since the pandemic started, at least 7,520 people in Manatee have contracted the virus.
Statewide, there were a total of 12,626 new cases, making 402,312 total cases since the pandemic got underway.
Hospitalizations decreased for the first time after Manatee County’s three general hospitals were at or near capacity for two weeks.
On Friday, there were a total of 146 patients admitted at one of the three hospitals who are positive for the coronavirus, nine fewer than on Thursday, according to data provided by each hospital to county officials daily. Among those, 25 COVID-19 patients were in an intensive care unit, a decrease of seven patients since Thursday.
Gary Tibbetts, 66, a special assistant to U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, had been in the ICU at Manatee Memorial Hospital since last week. He died early Friday from COVID-19.
Patients with the coronavirus still make up nearly a quarter of all patients at the three hospitals. According to the Florida Agency for Healthcare Administration, there were 123 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 being the primary reason for their admission.
The breakdown among hospitals of COVID-19 cases and available beds was:
- Manatee Memorial Hospital: 63 COVID-19 positive patients, eight of whom are in ICU, 16 available non-ICU beds and two available ICU beds.
- Lakewood Ranch Medical Center: 26 COVID-19 positive patients, six of whom are in ICU, eight available non-ICU beds and two available ICU beds.
- Blake Medical Center: 57 COVID-19 positive patients, 11 of whom are in ICU, 17 available non-ICU beds and 15 available ICU beds
Of the 1,820 test results released on Friday, there was a 14.7% positivty rate. Overall tests results in Manatee County have had a 10.5% positivty rate since the pandemic got underway, while that overall rate statewide is 12.3%.
Negative test results are counted each time, but when an individual tests positive, any repeated positive tests are only counted once.
Surrounding counties:
- Sarasota County cases increased from 4,644 to 4,837. The death toll rose from 110 to 113.
- Desoto County cases increased from 1,123 to 1,144. The death toll remained at 14.
- Hardee County cases increased from 733 to 759. The death toll remained at four.
- Hillsborough County cases increased from 25,432 to 26,037. The death toll rose from 278 to 280.
- Pinellas County cases increased from 14,371 to 14,726. The death toll rose from 364 to 367.
This story was originally published July 24, 2020 at 11:06 AM.
