Janelle Irwin Taylor
Hillsborough County saw a major dip Wednesday compared to Tuesday’s unprecedented spike in new COVID-19 cases, plummeting from 709 to 435.
Still, Wednesday’s reported caseload is the second highest date on record in the county and brings Hillsborough’s total number of cases since the virus surfaced in Florida in March to 7,329, according to the latest data from the Florida Department of Health.
If Hillsborough remains on this trajectory, it will exceed 10,000 cases in less than a week.
Also down Wednesday was the county’s positivity rate. It dropped to 10% from Tuesday’s record high of 20.4%. The county’s seven-day average remains a staggering 14.67%.
Pinellas County saw a similar single day dip, though its overall trajectory is also troubling.
Numbers dropped to 282 Wednesday from 351 Tuesday, the county’s new record. Pinellas County has now reported 4,669 cases.
It’s positivity rate dropped nearly 10 points Wednesday to 8.8%, but the county’s seven-day average remains in double digits at 12%.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is downplaying the significance of the rapid increases seen over the past several days, noting new cases are largely affecting a younger and more resilient demographic.
That trend is consistent in both Hillsborough and Pinellas. The median age of all coronavirus patients in Hillsborough remains at 35 while in Pinellas it dropped to 39.
Pinellas County’s rate of cases in longterm care facilities also continues to trend downward, landing at just 18% of all cases, down from a quarter just a week ago. Still, its average is seven points higher than the state as a whole.
Total hospitalizations are up to 592 in Hillsborough County and 589 in Pinellas. The death toll is 127 in Hillsborough is and 137 in Pinellas. Hillsborough County’s hospitalization and death rates are lower than the state average at 8% and 2%, respectively. At 13%, Pinellas County’s hospitalization rate is higher than the state average of 12%. It’s death rate, 3%, is consistent with the state.
One comment
BlueHeron
June 26, 2020 at 12:53 am
Well. Covid has entered my world.
A sister. Exposed, in quarantine and the test will not come back for about 7 days.
A cousin. Tests positive after begging for a test for a week. She wasn’t sick enough. She is home quite ill. Hopefully a hospital will not be necessary.
A cashier (essential) I know has his covid positive Son riding it out at home. This friend has tested negative and moved out of his home for fear of catching covid. He is in a high risk group. He can’t afford not to work so he goes in everyday.
A niece. Part of the essential healthcare system. Tests positive and in quarantine at home.
She’s young and should recover.
All of these people just in the last week and in different parts of Florida.
Definitely NOT a hoax,folks.
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