Two Manatee residents among record-high 186 new COVID-19 deaths in Florida
Two Manatee County residents were among the record 186 new COVID-19 deaths announced on Tuesday by the Florida Department of Health. The total number of infections in Manatee County surpassed 8,000.
The state’s death toll now stands at 6,117. In Manatee County, a total of 158 residents have died from COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the novel coronavirus.
The previous fatality record was set on Thursday, when 173 deaths were reported.
The health department also reported the deaths of five more non-residents, which it tallies separately. That total is now 123.
There were also 9,230 new cases of people testing positive for the coronavirus statewide on Tuesday. The state has now had at least 441,977 people who have been infected.
In Manatee County, there were 108 new cases confirmed. The locally tally of infections now stands at 8,090.
The number of patients currently hospitalized in the county who are positive for the coronavirus remained the same from Monday to Tuesday — 142 patients total between the three general hospitals. Those needing intensive care dropped from from 32 to 25.
According to the Florida Agency for Healthcare Administrations, there were 123 patients admitted for whom COVID-19 was the primary reason for the admission, down four from the day before.
Blake Medical Center remained at capacity on Tuesday with no available staffed beds. The remaining hospitals had 21 available staffed beds, including three ICU beds.
The breakdown among hospitals of COVID-19 cases and available beds was:
- Manatee Memorial Hospital: 57 COVID-19 positive patients, 10 of whom are in ICU, nine available non-ICU beds and one available ICU bed.
- Lakewood Ranch Medical Center: 24 COVID-19 positive patients, nine of whom are in ICU, one available non-ICU bed and two available ICU beds.
- Blake Medical Center: 61 COVID-19 positive patients, 16 of whom are in ICU.
As of Tuesday, there were also three residents staying at the Super 8 motel in Ellenton, which is being used for non-congregate sheltering by the county for those who cannot isolate at home or are homeless.
Tuesday’s release of 1,123 test results in Manatee County did have the lowest daily percent positive rate seen in weeks, at 9.6%. The overall positivity rate of tests in Manatee County remained the same on Tuesday, at about 10.7%.
On Monday afternoon, FDOH Manatee County health officer Dr. Jennifer Bencie told county commissioners that 48% of the cases in the county were asymptomatic during a special meeting in which a mask mandate was enacted.
Surrounding counties:
- Sarasota County cases increased from 5,168 to 5,274. The death toll remained at 115.
- DeSoto County cases increased from 1,205 to 1,227. The death toll remained at 14.
- Hardee County cases increased from 789 to 805. The death toll rose from five to six.
- Hillsborough County cases increased from 27,483 to 27,823. The death toll rose from 298 to 310.
- Pinellas County cases increased from 15,339 to 15,541. The death toll increased from 378 to 395.
This story was originally published July 28, 2020 at 11:16 AM.
