COVID-19 in Florida: State reports 8,804 new cases over weekend, including lowest one-day total since July 5

Florida on Monday reported 8,804 new COVID-19 cases from the weekend and increased its total death count by 939, according to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The 7-day average for new cases has been on a steady decline for a month and dropped to its lowest level since July 14. The 7-day average for new deaths dropped to 311. Deaths are counted on the day they occur, not the day they are reported, and can take up to two weeks or more to be reflected in the data.

At least 54,063 Floridians have now died of COVID-related causes through Sunday.

The pressure on hospitals has continued to ease since the end of August. On Monday, the number of people hospitalized for COVID in Florida was 6,366, a 25% decline over the past week, according to data from the Florida Hospital Association.

Here are the latest statistics:

The CDC on Tuesday updated its county-by county COVID numbers, which it has released weekly. South Florida counties have among the lowest cases per capita in the state, this week’s data shows. The statistics are for the week of Sept. 13-19.

Florida continues to drop in rankings of cases per capita, 27th as of Friday, according to New York Times data. The data shows 38 COVID cases per 100,000 population in Florida, down from 42 early in the week. Florida dropped to No. 2 for deaths with 1.53 per 100,000 population, down from 2.07 early in the week. Alabama ranked first as of Friday with 2.74 deaths per capita.

On Sept. 16, Florida reported a decline in its positivity rate, though it remains one of the highest in the nation. The positivity rate in Florida declined from 13.5% to 11.2%, a further indication the state may have passed the peak of the delta surge. The state releases positivity data weekly.

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