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

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

The new cases reported on 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 an additional 77 deaths added to the death toll Sunday. Five of the deaths reported Sunday were in northeast Florida: two in St. Louis County. Johns, two in Alachua County and one in Duval County.

The number of people tested for COVID-19 has been considerably lower in the last two days and it remains to be seen whether or not the Christmas weekend gatherings will increase the number of infections in the state – 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 previous two days.

The national 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.

More than 6,300 people were hospitalized on Sunday due to the virus, according to the health department.

Common symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, muscle aches, 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.