Eight new cases of COVID-19 in Manatee. Fewer than 1,900 new cases reported statewide

Eight Manatee County residents were among 1,885 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed statewide on Monday, according to the latest data from the Florida Department of Health.

It was the lowest number of new reported cases in Florida since June 15, when 1,758 new cases were confirmed.

Since that date, the state health department has reported the deaths of more than 8,200 residents from the coronavirus. The spike in cases and deaths occurred after the state’s reopening and accounts for the majority of Florida’s death toll, which now stands at 11,187 residents and 144 non-residents. The number includes 68 new resident deaths that were confirmed on Monday.

In Manatee County, 10,426 residents have tested positive, and 258 people have died from COVID-19.

Testing in Florida has decreased dramatically in recent weeks, but the proportion of tests that are positive has also been significantly declining, according to health department data.

The trend of decreasing positivity has been occurring across most regions of the U.S. since mid-July, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, and hospitalizations and mortality rates have also recently declined.

Florida’s overall positivity rate is at 13.5 percent, which is above the health department’s and CDC’s target rate of below 10 percent. However, the average weekly positivity rate has been below 10 percent and steadily decreasing since early August.

Manatee County cases from Sunday to Monday:

• Cases increased from 10,418 to 10,426.
• The death toll remained at 258.
• Hospitalizations since the outbreak increased from 736 to 738.
• The number of men infected is 4,780 compared to 5,373 females with 164 not identified.
• The number of tests administered increased from 95,654 to 95,848.
• Manatee County’s overall positivity rate decreased from 10.89% to 10.88%.
  
  

Florida cases from Sunday to Monday:

• Cases rose from 621,586 to 623,471.
• The death toll rose from 11,119 to 11,187. The number of non-resident deaths remained at 144.
• Florida’s positivity rate remained at 13.49%.

Surrounding counties:

• Sarasota County: Cases increased from 7,193 to 7,207. The official death toll remained at 202.
• DeSoto County: Cases increased from 1,475 to 1,489. The official death toll remained at 22.
• Hardee County: Cases increased from 1,092 to 1,097. The official death toll remained at nine.
• Hillsborough County: Cases increased from 37,013 to 37,136. The official death toll rose from 547 to 551.
• Pinellas County: Cases increased from 19,888 to 19,929. The official death toll rose from 650 to 658.