Florida deaths from COVID-19 surge past 900

With another 34 deaths reported since Wednesday morning, the Department of Health confirmed at least 927 Floridians have died from COVID-19.

The total number of cases in the state continued to climb, reaching 28,576, an increase of 707 over the previous 24 hours. That came as 14,165 tests were administered in Tuesday, with about 10% coming back positive. In total 921 individuals tested positive in Florida on Tuesday, a spike over the prior three days, but significantly less than the high 1,311 positive tests reported back on April 3.

The number of individuals hospitalized in the state rose to 4,455, as of 5 p.m. Wednesday.

Some 82% of COVID-19 cases in Florida are individuals over the age of 65, with 28% older than 85. A somewhat alarming number of cases (2,333) continue to be traced to staff and residents in long-term care facilities, including 248 of the Florida deaths.

About 60% of all known cases tested positive in three South Florida counties— Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach.

The good news is models continue to assert Florida is past the peak of the outbreak and is on a downward slope. A widely cited predictor by the University of Washington’s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation makes clear Florida will still suffer deaths — indeed the estimated total number in the model bumped upward to 1,537 when all is done. But it will come at a generally slower pace.

The peak of new deaths in Florida actually occurred on April 6 and April 7, according to data from the Department of Health. On both days, 44 people died.

Florida also passed the peak need for hospital resources last week, when the model believed the state needed an estimated 1,512 hospital beds. The state has been prepared with 20,184 beds.

During a press conference Wednesday, Gov. Ron DeSantis published back on criticisms that Jacksonville residents were #FloridaMorons following false reports over the weekend of large crowds at newly reopened Northeast Florida beaches. The Governor, after comparing Florida’s relative COVID-19 caseload to other states, then presented charts comparing Duval County’s relatively low hospitalization rate to East Coast media markets.

DeSantis also highlighted Orange County, the only Florida county outside of South Florida with more than 1,000 cases, now with 1,258. On Tuesday, only 24 people tested positive in the county.

“Orange County with the theme parks, just think of how many people came through there January, February, the beginning of March,” he said, adding medical insights are suggesting COVID-19 was in the United States before officials first reported it.

And with only six new cases in Hillsborough County Tuesday and 34 people currently hospitalized, the Governor was able to make bring levity to the situation in the Tampa Bay Area.

“They’re going to have Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski coming in for the Bucs, so hopefully everyone will be happy, but this is really, I think, a good picture.”

Meanwhile, an increasing number of counties throughout the state have started to ease restrictions on beach access. Sarasota and Charlotte counties will start allowing limited beach use on Monday, for example.

And a task force appointed by DeSantis continues to debate quick, clear guidance for businesses to come back online.

With the first two days in the rear view mirror and only two more meetings till the Friday deadline, calls for a set of “overriding principles” for the executive committee led off the open mic discussion following the layout of retail, recreation and entertainment interests. Putting safety first and having a data-driven policy that complements federal guidelines and allows for an access to resources made the initial list of principles.