Florida reports 1,727 COVID deaths, more than 150,000 cases this week


Florida reports 1,727 COVID deaths, more than 150,000 cases this week

The state Department of Health reported 151,760 new coronavirus cases this week among Florida residents to bring the cumulative total to 3,179,714. With 1,727 more fatalities on record, 43,979 Florida residents have died.

This week's 1,727 deaths reflect an increase from the 1,486 reported last week, but deaths can take several days or weeks to be reported.

The number of weekly cases decreased by four compared to the previous week's 150,740. Positivity decreased to 16.8%, but that's for new cases only and excludes anyone who previously tested positive.

Of note, the new state reports deal only with Florida resident cases and exclude non-residents cases, which are no longer available.

Across the state, 14,833 people are hospitalized with COVID-19 for the seven-day period from Aug. 18-24, according to the latest White House report. In comparison, 16,087 were hospitalized the previous week. The week before that, it was 15,098.

Dr. Neil Finkler, chief clinical officer of AdventHealth's Central Florida Division, said on Thursday that he thought hospitalizations had peaked for this wave. In addition, a model by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention predicts that cases will begin to decrease in the next few days in Florida, and The University of Washington's model predicts that Florida's hospital resource use has already peaked.

Nevertheless, hospitals are still overwhelmed with cases.

Hospital officials from AdventHealth, Central Florida's largest hospital system, said in an email obtained by the Orlando Sentinel that the system's morgues are full.

The Central Florida Disaster Medical Coalition on Friday ordered 14 portable refrigerated morgues to help hospitals with overflow bodies, said Lynne Drawdy, executive director of the Central Florida Disaster Medical Coalition.

This month, Orange County recorded the most deaths from COVID-19 since vaccines became available, topping 70 fatalities, said Raul Pino, the county's state health officer.

Statewide, 12,916,873 residents, or 68% of people age 12 and up, have received at least one vaccination shot, including 10,785,185 who have completed their shot regimens through Aug. 26.

Central Florida added 32,150 resident cases this week, based on the actual date the state opened the case, for a total of 615,355: 9,065 more in Orange for 199,787; 2,538 more in Osceola for 62,666; 7,520 more in Polk for 107,867; 2,550 more in Lake for 45,262; 593 more in Sumter for 12,311; 2,617 more in Volusia for 65,192; 4,510 more in Brevard for 68,833; 2,757 more in Seminole for 53,437.

Deaths are not available by county in the new weekly report.

Source