Manatee County reports 33 new coronavirus cases, pushing total closer to 10,000
Manatee County had 33 new positive cases of the coronavirus among the 4,115 new cases confirmed across the state by the Florida Department of Health on Wednesday.
There are now 9,924 people who have tested positive locally since the start of the pandemic. Statewide., infections now total 584,047.
Another 174 Florida residents have been confirmed to have died from COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. A total of 9,932 residents and 135 non-residents have died since March.
In Manatee County, there were no new COVID-19 deaths announced. The official local death toll now stands at 247.
Wednesday’s new cases were among 318 test results released locally by FDOH, with a positivity rate of 10.4%.
Manatee Memorial remains at capacity
Despite hospitalizations for COVID-19 being on the slight decline, Manatee Memorial Hospital remained at capacity on Wednesday morning. There were 23 patients in the emergency room waiting for a bed to become available to be admitted.
The county’s remaining general hospitals, Blake Medical Center and Lakewood Ranch Medical Center, had 29 non-ICU beds available and six ICU beds between the two, according to data provided by the hospitals to county public safety officials.
The three hospitals had a total of 62 patients admitted who are positive for the coronavirus. An additional 15 admitted patients being treated were presumptive positive for the virus.
The breakdown among hospitals of COVID-19 cases and availability as of Wednesday morning was:
- Blake Medical Center: 22 COVID-19 positive patient, eight of whom are in ICU, 16 available non-ICU beds, four available ICU beds, 16 available negative pressure rooms and 19 available ventilators.
Lakewood Ranch Medical Center: four COVID-19 positive patients, one of who is in ICU, 13 available non-ICU beds, two available ICU beds, 15 available negative pressure rooms and eight available ventilators.
Manatee Memorial Hospital: 36 COVID-19 positive patients, four of whom are in ICU, no available beds, 15 available negative pressure rooms and 16 available ventilators.
Surrounding counties:
- Sarasota County cases increased from 6,764 to 6,814. The death toll rose from 178 to 179.
- DeSoto County cases increased from 1,424 to 1,426. The death toll remained at 21.
- Hardee County cases increased from 1,019 to 1,023. The death toll remained at eight.
- Hillsborough County cases increased from 34,604 to 34,851. The death toll rose from 490 to 508.
- Pinellas County cases increased from 18,738 to 18,994. The death toll rose from 570 to 582.
This story was originally published August 19, 2020 at 11:08 AM.
