Manatee County resident among 119 new COVID-19 deaths in Florida. Local cases top 10,000
A 66-year-old Manatee County woman was among the 119 new COVID-19 deaths confirmed across the state by the Florida Department of Health on Friday. The total number of infections in the county surpassed 10,000.
The woman did not live or work at a long-term care facility. Her case was officially counted on June 20.
Since the pandemic hit, a total of 248 Manatee County residents have died from COVID-19.
Across the state, there have been 10,168 residents and 136 non-residents who have died from COVID-19, according to the health department. Friday’s data had one fewer non-resident dying from COVID-19, compared to Thursday, when the tally of non-resident deaths totaled 137.
There were also 62 new positive cases of the coronavirus reported in Manatee County on Friday. Infections in Manatee County now total 10,059.
The latest cases were among 447 test results released locally on Friday, with a positivity rate of 13.9%.
The state announced a total of 4,684 new cases. A total of 593,286 people have tested positive in Florida since March.
In the past two weeks there have been 130 children in Manatee County who have tested positive for the coronavirus. Schools opened Monday, with some students attending in-person classes, others remaining online and the remaining attending a hybrid of the two.
Exposures at school which began since teachers first returned to schools ahead of the new year have continued with students back in the building.
Hospitals still feeling strain
Manatee County’s three general hospitals are still feeling the strain of the pandemic with 53 patients confirmed to have the coronavirus currently hospitalized, according to latest data provided by the hospitals to county public safety officials on Friday morning . Another 21 patients who are presumptive positive are also currently hospitalized.
Manatee Memorial Hospital was nearly at capacity with only two non-ICU beds available and 11 patients waiting in the emergency room for a bed to become available to be admitted.
There were a total of 24 non-ICU and 11 ICU staffed beds available.
The breakdown among hospitals of COVID-19 cases and availability as of Friday morning was:
- Blake Medical Center: 21 COVID-19 positive patient, four of whom were in ICU, 13 available non-ICU beds, nine available ICU beds, 10 available negative pressure rooms and 18 available ventilators.
- Lakewood Ranch Medical Center: four COVID-19 positive patients, none who were in ICU, eight available non-ICU beds, two available ICU beds, 13 available negative pressure rooms and eight available ventilators.
- Manatee Memorial Hospital: 28 COVID-19 positive patients, five of whom were in ICU, three available non-ICU beds, no available ICU beds, 13 available negative pressure rooms and 10 available ventilators.
Since Thursday, there were 10 patients still positive for the coronavirus but discharged to their home because they no longer require hospitalization. Of those still hospitalized, there were 24 patients waiting to be discharged to a long-term care facility.
Surrounding counties:
- Sarasota County cases increased from 6,850 to 6,905. The death toll remained at 180.
- DeSoto County cases increased from 1,438 to 1,443. The death toll remained at 21.
- Hardee County cases increased from 1,045 to 1,049. The death toll remained at eight.
- Hillsborough County cases increased from 35,061 to 35,293. The death toll rose from 512 to 519.
- Pinellas County cases increased from 19,087 to 19,247. The death toll rose from 587 to 591.
This story was originally published August 21, 2020 at 11:12 AM.
