More than 1,300 kids in Manatee have tested positive for the coronavirus, state says

An additional 38 children in Manatee County have tested positive for the novel coroanvirus in the past week, according to the Florida Department of Health.

In a report dated Friday, the health department said 1,323 Manatee County residents 17 and younger had tested positive since the start of the pandemic. That’s up from 1,285 a week earlier.

Since the start of the pandemic, 12.5% of the 10,586 children in Manatee County who have been tested have been found to be infected with the coronavirus, which causes the COVID-19 respiratory disease.

The overall positivity rate for Manatee County as of Friday was 10.8%

In Sarasota County, 569 children had tested positive for the coronavirus as of Friday, 25 more than a week earlier. The positivity rate was 9.4%. Countywide, Sarasota’s positivity rate on Friday was 8.6%.

Statewide, 55,427 children have tested positive from the coronavirus, up from 1,710 from a week earlier. The positivity rate for children in Florida was 13.9%.

The statewide positivity rate for all residents was 13.4%.

This story was originally published September 19, 2020 at 5:00 AM.