875 kids in Manatee County have tested positive for coronavirus, state says

An additional 242 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 875 children have tested positive for the novel coronavirus responsible for the COVID-19 respiratory disease. A week earlier, 633 people 17 and younger had tested positive, according to the health department.

A total of 6,274 children have been tested in Manatee since the start of the pandemic, for a positivity rate of 13.9.%. A week earlier, the positivity rate was 13.3%.

By comparison, the county’s overall positivity rate as of Sunday was 10.6%. The county has a total of 7,859 cases, as of Saturday, meaning at least 11.1% of those who have tested positive in Manatee County are children.

Statewide, a total of 31,150 children have been infected with the coronavirus, or 14.4.% of those tested. In Florida, 7.3% of those who have tested positive are children.

Five children have died.

In Sarasota County, a total of 344 children had tested positive, as of a Friday, up from 237 a week earlier. A total of 3,653 children have been tested, for a positivity rate of 9.4%, up from 8.8 a week earlier.

Miami-Dade County has the most children who have tested positive for COVID-19 — 6,017. or 19.6% of those who have been tested.