27 more COVID-19 infections in Manatee County. Positive test rate continues to drop

An additional 27 Manatee County residents have tested positive for COVID-19, according to the latest data from the Florida Department of Health on Sunday. The county’s case total is now at 10,418, while the death toll remains at 258.

Florida added 2,583 confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Sunday, the second-lowest amount of new cases reported since mid-June. The state’s case total since testing for the coronavirus began is now at 621,586.

An additional 14 COVID-19-related deaths of Florida residents were also reported on Sunday. The statewide death toll from COVID-19 is now at 11,119 Florida residents and 144 non-residents.

Florida has had the second highest number of reported COVID-19 cases in the nation since the outbreak began, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, and the fifth highest number of deaths.

The rate at which Manatee County residents are testing positive for COVID-19 continues to decline on a week-by-week basis. Over the past week, an average of 3.5 percent of tests were positive, compared to 4.8 percent the week before, according to health department data. The county’s overall positivity rate since testing began fell slightly to 10.89 percent on Sunday. The health department’s “target range” for positivity rates is below 10 percent.

The CDC noted that new cases, hospitalization rates and mortality were decreasing nationwide in its most recent summary of COVID-19 activity in the U.S., which analyzed data through the third week of August.

Manatee County cases from Saturday to Sunday:

• Cases increased from 10,391 to 10,418. (248 new cases were reported over the past week.)
• The death toll remained at 258. (10 new deaths were reported over the past week.)
• Hospitalizations since the outbreak increased from 733 to 736.
• The number of men infected is 4,775 compared to 5,370 females with 164 not identified.
• The number of tests administered increased from 95,268 to 95,654. (3,117 tests were administered over the past week.)
• Manatee County’s overall positivity rate is 10.9%. That compares to 11% last week, 11% two weeks ago, 10.6% three weeks ago and 10% a month ago.
  
  

Florida cases from Saturday to Sunday:

• Cases rose from 619,003 to 621,586.
• The death toll rose from 11,105 to 11,119. The number of non-resident deaths remained at 144.
• Florida’s positivity rate is 13.49%.

Surrounding counties:

• Sarasota County: Cases increased from 7,162 to 7,193. The official death toll remained at 202.
• DeSoto County: Cases increased from 1,472 to 1,475. The official death toll remained at 22.
• Hardee County: Cases increased from 1,091 to 1,092. The official death toll remained at nine.
• Hillsborough County: Cases increased from 36,784 to 37,013. The official death toll rose from 545 to 547.
• Pinellas County: Cases increased from 19,813 to 19,888. The official death toll rose remained at 650.

This story was originally published August 30, 2020 at 2:14 PM.