Manatee County records 32 new cases of COVID-19 as Florida tallies 61 new deaths

Florida health officials on Saturday reported 32 new cases of COVID-19 in Manatee County as the number of reported test results declined overnight compared to recent weeks.

The number of test results reported from Friday to Saturday was 444 with a total of 32 positive cases. It’s one of the lowest amount of test results reported since early in the pandemic when test kits were limited.

There were no new deaths reported in Manatee County leaving the death toll at 266.

The pandemic continues to hit the elderly population the hardest. The age groups between 15 and 54 years of age in Manatee County represents 64% of the overall cases, but only 9% of the deaths, with the majority of those deaths in the 45-54 range. The age groups over 65 represent just 15% of the overall cases, but 77% of the deaths.

Long-term care facility patients in Manatee County represent just 8% percent of the overall cases with 814 cases. However, 120 of the 266 fatalities have been linked to those facilities, including five staff members, according to the state’s weekly report.

Statewide, Florida tallied 61 new deaths, five of which were revised and added from Friday’s report. The new fatalities bring the death toll to 11,811 while recording another 3,656 new cases. Florida’s total number of infections since the outbreak now stands at 643,867.

Though Manatee County’s positivity rate has been below 6% for two weeks straight, the overall positivity rate only dropped slightly from 10.86% to 10.84%. The highest rate in the past two weeks was Aug. 23 at 5.22% while the lowest day was Aug. 30 at 1.04%

Florida’s positivity rate increased slightly from 13.49% to 13.5%.

Manatee County cases and deaths by age group:

• 0-4: Cases increased from 250 to 251, with no deaths.
• 5-14: Cases increased from 691 to 695, with no deaths.
• 15-24: Cases increased from 1,668 to 1,676, with one death.
• 25-34: Cases increased from 1,806 to 1,809, with four deaths.
• 35-44: Cases remained at 1,688, with five deaths.
• 45-54: Cases increased from 1,528 to 1,534, with 12 deaths.
• 55-64: Cases increased from 1,292 to 1,297 with 39 deaths.
• 65-74: Cases increased from 812 to 815, with 51 deaths.
• 75-84: Cases remained at 488, with 84 deaths.
• 85 plus: Cases increased from 259 to 261, with 70 deaths.
• Unidentified: Cases remained at 10 with no deaths.

Manatee County from Friday to Saturday:

• Cases increased from 10,601 to 10,633.
• The death toll remained at 266.
• Hospitalizations since the outbreak increased from 752 to 760.
• The number of males infected are 4,893 compared to 5,499 females.
• Manatee County’s overall positivity rate fell slightly from 10.86% to 10.84%..
• The number of tests administered since the outbreak increased from 97,609 to 98,053.

Florida from Friday to Saturday:

• Cases increased from 640,211 to 643,867
• The death toll increased from 11,750 to 11,811.
• Florida’s positivity rate increased slightly from 13.49% to 13.5%.

Surrounding counties:

• Sarasota County: Cases increased from 7,338 to 7,378. The official death toll remained at 216.
• DeSoto County: Cases increased from 1,503 to 1,522. The official death toll remained at 22.
• Hardee County: Cases increased from 1,125 to 1,150. The official death toll remained at nine.
• Hillsborough County: Cases increased from 37,981 to 38,262. The official death toll rose from 558 to 559.
• Pinellas County: Cases increased from 20,259 to 20,355. The official death toll rose from 669 to 671.