FL Reports More Than 14,000 Deaths From Coronavirus

TALLAHASSEE, FL — Florida health officials reported 2,847 new cases of the coronavirus on Friday and 120 more deaths from the virus as Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced plans to move to Phase 3 of reopening the state.

"What that will mean for the restaurants — there will not be limitations from the state of Florida," DeSantis said.

"The order that I'm signing today will guarantee restaurants operate — will not allow closures. They can operate at a minimum of 50 percent regardless of local rule," he said. "If a local restricts between 50 and 100 (percent) they've got to provide the justification and they've got to identify what the costs involved of doing that are." See Phase 3 FL Reopening Means Bars, Restaurants At Full Capacity

The number of confirmed cases of the virus in the state climbed to 695,887 as of Friday, up from 693,040 over the previous 24-hour period.

The total number of deaths in Florida rose to 13,915 by Friday morning from 13,795 a day earlier.

By Friday nigt, Florida surpassed 14,000 coronavirus deaths, adding another 122 people dead from the virus, according to the Florida Department of Health.

In total, 14,083 people have died from COVID-19 in Florida. The weekly death average decreased somewhat to 99 people announced dead per day. The peak came in early August, with about 185 people announced dead per day.

Florida's most recent one-day record of reported deaths was set on Aug. 11. Health officials reported another 168 deaths involving non-Florida residents who died in Florida as of Friday.

Friday's death total compares to 177 new deaths Thursday, 202 new deaths Wednesday, 99 new deaths Tuesday, 21 new deaths Monday, nine new deaths Sunday, 62 new deaths Saturday and 139 new deaths last Friday.

Florida Department of Health officials recently stopped listing the counties that report new deaths. Floridians must now search all 67 counties on the Florida Department of Health's coronavirus dashboard and compare the results to the previous day's data to find the same information.

Florida's numbers compare to 800,786 cases and 15,415 deaths in California; 747,456 cases and 15,518 deaths in Texas as well as 453,755 cases and 33,102 deaths in New York, according to information compiled by Johns Hopkins.

Thursday was the state's 43rd day of daily positivity under 10 percent. The daily positivity rate is calculated by taking the number of people who test PCR-or antigen-positive for the first time divided by all the people tested that day, excluding people who have previously tested positive.

Florida's overall positivity rate, which is cumulative, was at 13.35 percent as of Friday based on 5,213,142 total tests.

See related:

• Phase 3 FL Reopening Means Bars, Restaurants At Full Capacity
• Miami's Hollywood Allure Springs Back As Coronavirus Relents
• Coronavirus Claims 200,000 U.S. Lives: BLOG
• COVID-19 Suspends Fall Sports At Florida Southern College
• Miami-Dade Movie Theaters, Concerts Get OK To Reopen
• Four More Manatee Schools Report Coronavirus Cases
• Miami-Dade And Broward To Move Into Phase 2 Of Reopening
• Most Florida Bars Cleared To Reopen
• Lakeland High Suspends 2 Football Games Due to Coronavirus Case

Miami-Dade, which includes Miami and Miami Beach, reported 168,775 cases of the virus and 3,202 deaths as of Friday. Nearby Broward County, which includes Fort Lauderdale, reported 76,520 cases and 1,364 deaths. Palm Beach County, which includes Palm Beach, West Palm and Boca Raton, reported 46,023 cases and 1,337 deaths.

Hillsborough County, which includes Tampa, reported 41,506 cases of the virus and 625 deaths while Orange County, which includes Orlando, reported 39,717 cases and 444 deaths.

Sarasota County, which includes the city of Sarasota, reported 8,065 cases of the virus and 254 deaths. Manatee County, which includes Bradenton, reported 11,393 cases and 291 deaths. Pinellas County reported 21,845 cases of the virus and 742 deaths while Pasco County reported 9,101 cases and 208 deaths. Polk County, which includes Lakeland, reported 19,647 cases of the virus and 526 deaths.

Don’t miss updates about precautions in Florida as they are announced. Sign up for Patch news alerts and newsletters.

The state reported 43,299 hospitalizations, up from 43,128 a day earlier. That represents an increase of 171 new hospitalizations over the previous day.

State health officials also reported a total of 2,137 current hospitalizations with a primary diagnosis of COVID-19, which is down from 2,173 current hospitalizations a day earlier.