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

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Florida is up by 7,391, health officials reported Sunday.

The new cases reported Sunday brought the state’s number to 1,271,979 since the outbreak began earlier this year.

The Florida Department of Health has now reported 21,514 coronavirus-related deaths – with 77 additional deaths added to the death toll on Sunday. Five of the deaths reported Sunday were in Northeast 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 significantly lower in the past two days, and it remains to be seen if gatherings over the Christmas weekend will increase the number of state infections, as was the case after the Thanksgiving holiday.

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

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

According to data from the health department, more than 6,300 people were hospitalized on Sunday because of the virus.

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