Florida health officials report 7K increase in COVID-19 cases

JACKSONVILLE, Florida. – The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Florida has increased by 7,391, health officials reported on Sunday.

The new cases recorded on Sunday have raised the state count to 1,271,979 since the outbreak began earlier this year.

The Florida Department of Health has reported 21,514 coronavirus-related deaths – with 77 additional deaths added to the death toll on Sunday. Five of the deaths reported on Sunday occurred in northeastern Florida: two in St. Johns County, two in Alachua County and one in Duval County.

The number of people tested for COVID-19 has been considerably lower in the past two days, and it remains to be seen whether meetings over Christmas weekend will increase the number of infections in the state or not – as was the case after the Thanksgiving holiday. .

More than 171,000 people were tested for the virus on Friday and Saturday – dramatically less than the 343,000 who were tested in the previous two days.

The statewide positivity rate was 8.01% based on Friday’s test and was 9.69% based on Saturday’s test, the state Health Department said on Sunday.

More than 6,300 people were in the hospital on Sunday because of the virus, according to data from the health department.

Common symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, cough, difficulty breathing, sore throat, muscle pain and loss of taste or smell. Most people develop only mild symptoms. But some people, usually those with other medical complications, develop more severe symptoms, including pneumonia.