52 new COVID-19 cases reported in Manatee County. Florida’s death toll passes 17,000
Another 52 people have tested positive for the coronavirus in Manatee County. The number of residents killed by COVID-19 in Florida surpassed 17,000 on Friday.
Across Florida, there were 5,245 new infections reported by the Florida Department of Health. Cases in the state now total 832,625.
In Manatee County, there have been a total of 13,944 confirmed coronavirus infections.
The deaths of 53 residents and a non-resident from COVID-19 were also confirmed on Friday. The disease has now caused the deaths of 17,014 residents and 210 non-residents.
No new deaths were reported in Manatee County, with the official death toll here standing at 330.
The median age for Thursday’s positive cases was 59 — a jump after weeks of the median age of cases being people in their 30’s or 40’s. Those cases had a positivity rate of 4.7%, according to the health department.
Hospitalizations ticked upward again in Florida, as well in Manatee County on Friday. The county’s three general hospitals — Blake Medical Center, Lakewood Ranch Medical Center and Manatee Memorial Hospital — had 37 patients positive for the coronavirus, including seven patients who were being treated in an ICU, according to the data collected by county public safety officials.
Across the state, there were 2,564 patients hospitalized on Friday with COVID-19 as a primary diagnosis and reason for their admission, an increase of 37 patients since Thursday, according to the Florida Agency for Healthcare Administration. Hospitalizations have continued to slowly climb. In Manatee County, AHCA reported 34 hospitalized patients met this criteria.
In the past week, paramedics have transported an average of four suspected COVID-19 patients per day, according to Manatee County EMS, compared to an average of four to seven calls daily calls the week prior. Meanwhile, the Emergency Communications Center took 12 med-alert 911 calls for COVID-19 while 311 took 26 COVID-related calls, fielding mostly questions about testing.
Together the three hospitals had 36 available and staffed beds, including six ICU beds — less than half the capacity of a week ago.
Surrounding counties
- Sarasota County: Cases increased from 10,186 to 10,247. The death toll rose from 348 to 350.
- Desoto County: Cases increased from 1,703 to 1,710. The death toll remained at 30.
- Hardee County: Cases increased from 1,640 to 1,641. The death toll remained at 17.
- Hillsborough County: Cases increased from 49,794 to 50,127. The death toll rose from 828 to 830.
- Pinellas County: Cases increased from 26,884 to 27,192. The death toll increased from 830 to 831.
This story was originally published November 6, 2020 at 1:34 PM.
