61 new coronavirus infections in Manatee County. State reports more than 4,000 new cases
Manatee County has 61 new coronavirus infections among the latest 4,115 cases confirmed in Florida by the Florida Department of Health on Wednesday.
Since the start of the pandemic, there have been 790,426 people infected in Florida. Locally, there have been 13,175 who have contracted the coronavirus.
The deaths of 66 Florida residents from COVID-19 were also confirmed by health department on Wednesday. The state’s official death toll now stands at 16,571 for residents.
Locally, no new deaths were reported, leaving the official death toll at 330 in Manatee County.
Along with new cases, the positivity rate of those tested is also on the rise.
According to FDOH reports, the positivity rate of test results from Tuesday was 5.38% compared to 5.10% from Monday. The FDOH’s method of calculating positivity rate, however, eliminates positive results for someone who has previously tested positive, but includes negative results for someone who has been tested before, a method that has been highly criticized by experts as being misleading.
Hospitalizations for COVID-19 have been on the rise as have new cases, but locally have seen slight variations but remaining within the same range in Manatee County over the past week. On Wednesday, there were 26 patients admitted to one of the county’s three general hospitals, Blake Medical Center, Lakewood Ranch Medical Center and Manatee Memorial Hospital, according to data collected by county public safety officials.
To date, there have been 897 people hospitalized with the coronavirus locally.
According to the Florida Agency for Healthcare Administration, the hospitals had 25 patients admitted with COVID-19 being a primary diagnosis — no change from Tuesday. Statewide, current hospitalizations rose to 2,338.
Those three hospitals had 75 available and staffed beds, including 17 ICU beds, according to the county’s data.
Surrounding counties
- Sarasota County cases increased from 9,517 to 9,567. The death toll remained at 338.
- Desoto County cases increased from 1,662 to 1,666. The death toll remained at 29.
- Hardee County cases increased from 1,584 to 1,596. The death toll remained at 16.
- Hillsborough County cases increased from 47,371 to 47,596. The death toll rose from 762 to 782.
- Pinellas County cases increased from 25,414 to 25,534. The death toll remained at 818.
This story was originally published October 28, 2020 at 11:44 AM.
