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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) – Florida reported another spike in new coronavirus infections Saturday, rising to more than 4,000 cases, the highest number in two months.
The state also reported nearly 90 more deaths, bringing its official death toll to nearly 16,000 Floridians since March. Since the outbreak began, Florida has recorded more than 752,00 cases of coronavirus.
The spike in Florida comes as infections are increasing alarmingly in other parts of the country, particularly in the Midwest and other areas that were relatively spared during the previous attack of the COVID-19 outbreak.
There was no immediate explanation for the increase in numbers. It is the third time in the last seven days that the number of new cases far exceeds 3,000, according to state health statistics reports.
Three weeks ago, Governor Ron DeSantis lifted all restrictions on restaurants and other businesses in Florida as part of his push to revive the economy.
The increase comes as Florida prepares to open its polls on Monday for early voting ahead of the November 3 presidential election.
Saturday’s new report raised the seven-day average to more than 3,300 cases, although the attempt to compile statistical trends has recently been hampered due to reporting anomalies.
On two occasions in the last few months, the one-day totals exceeded Saturday’s increase, but were statistical outliers. In one case, the data that was reported included figures that should have been reported earlier, as was also the case in early September, when a testing company released data dating back to April.
Those recent reporting anomalies aside, Saturday’s number was the highest since Aug. 22, when the state reported more than 4,300 new cases.
The latest numbers also show a slight increase in the infection rate, at 5.2%, but the Florida Department of Health noted that it was the 65th consecutive day the positivity rate remained below 10%.
In its report Saturday, the department said that more than 2,000 people were in the hospital primarily due to COVID-19 infections.
