3 counties in Northeast Florida see the largest increase in the COVID-19 case in weeks

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The State Florida Department of Health reported 9,411 additional cases of the coronavirus on Tuesday, bringing the seven-day average of new cases in the state to just over 10,000. The weekly average hasn’t been that high since July 30, records show.

Also on Tuesday, 94 deaths were reported in Florida, including six deaths in Northeast Florida counties.

Clay County, which had the largest one-day increase in cases on Tuesday since Sept. 12 (115), reported three deaths. In total, 169 people have died in Clay County since the start of the pandemic. Two deaths were reported in Baker County and one death in Union County.

Bradford County saw the largest one-day increase since September 3 with 31 new cases reported and Union County saw 19 new cases, the most in one day since October 15.

According to the health department, 1,143,794 people in Florida have tested positive for COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic.

As the number of cases has soared in Florida this fall, more COVID-19 patients are also requiring hospitalization. The Agency for Health Care Administration reported Tuesday afternoon that 5,103 patients had been hospitalized for “primary” diagnoses of COVID-19, compared with 2,637 on Sept. 14.

Amid the rising numbers, DeSantis held a press conference in West Palm Beach on Tuesday and said restaurants should remain open despite the rise in cases. He was optimistic that the vaccine, which arrived in Florida on Monday, will help reduce cases and deaths, especially in long-term care settings.

The statewide positivity rate based on Monday’s tests was 9.64%, the health department said Tuesday. The last time the rate was higher was on November 13, when it was 9.98%. The positivity rate, a key factor in determining the spread of the virus in the community, has not dropped below 6.22% in weeks.

A report by the White House Coronavirus Task Force recommended that Florida take more stringent measures to slow the spread of the virus, including always wearing a mask in public, increasing physical distance by reducing capacity or indoor areas at restaurants and to close bars and limit meetings. outside immediate households. The December 6 report, obtained by the Center for Public Integrity, also urged leaders to begin warning of the risks of congregating during the December holiday season.

DeSantis has ruled out further business restrictions or a masking mandate to stop the spread of the virus.

Of all states, Florida had the 41st most new cases per 100,000 residents and the 33rd highest number of positive cases, according to the Dec. 6 report.

“Ranking is almost irrelevant as the whole country is rising,” the report said.

Two newspapers last week sued the DeSantis government for failing to disclose weekly reports of coronavirus conditions in the Sunshine State prepared by the White House Coronavirus Task Force.