Drew Dixon
The five-county First Coast region cracked 15,000 total cases of coronavirus, according to Florida Department of Health data released Friday.
At the end of Thursday, there were 956 new cases of COViD-19 added to the Northeast Florida tally bringing the total to 15,403.
After several days of slowing the pace of new cases, Jacksonville saw a sharp spike Thursday, jumping by 744 new cases for a total of 11,772. It’s the not the highest single-day increase in cases in Jacksonville, but it’s close.
The huge increase in cases comes about a month and half from the Republican National Convention at Jacksonville’s VyStar Credit Union Veterans Memorial Arena. The four-day event set to begin Aug. 24 is already being challenged in court by a group of business leaders who are trying to stop it for fear that tens of thousands of GOP faithful descending on the city would only lead to a super-outbreak of COVID-19.
Jacksonville did see a drop in positivity rates, dropping from 20.9% Wednesday to 13% Thursday.
Duval County returned 4,954 tests Thursday, more than double Wednesday’s total. Duval County opened three new additional testing centers in the Arlington, Northside and Westside neighborhoods, which will likely lead to continued upticks in testing.
While Thursday’s testing results were high, it’s not a record number. That happened on June 27 when 5,887 tests were returned.
St. Johns County also saw a notable spike in cases Thursday for a county with a population of less than 500,000. There were 98 new cases in St. Johns County Thursday bringing the total number to 1,730. The county added one new death, brining its total to 10.
St. Johns also saw a dip in positivity rates, dropping from 15.6% Wednesday to 10.3% Thursday.
Elsewhere on the First Coast, Clay County added 74 new cases of coronavirus Thursday, arriving at 1,328. Clay also added one new death increasing to 35 total. Nassau County added 33 new cases and Baker County added eight.
Across Northeast Florida, there are now 125 deaths and 673 hospitalizations.
Statewide, 244,151 people have been infected in Florida, 4,102 have died from COVID-19 and 17,602 have been hospitalized.
3 comments
jon
July 10, 2020 at 3:56 pm
SO WHAT?!
You test more, you find more! Now do the math.
What part of the statistics of this virus do you NOT understand! We have the data now. The data says it is now worse than the typical flu! Just like the flu, elderly and health compromise citizens should do more to avoid exposure! Since when in history has the healthy quarantined themselves? NEVER!
Al Brooks
July 11, 2020 at 6:20 pm
Data changes, the virus mutates, new fatality rates change with the mutations. When you can find mortality rates or fatality rates (you do know the difference right?) of any flu that comes close you can post it here.
Also, since you don’t know history. During the 1918 pandemic the American Public Health Association also recommended to not have gatherings, close bars, saloons, movie theaters and dance halls, prohibit funerals, limit church services and how many people could be on a street car. What we are being advised to do is nothing new but the whining about it certainly is.
Sonja Fitch
July 11, 2020 at 5:59 am
Looting Lenny cancel the Damn RNC! Our children! Damn our children will be trying to transition back into our schools! Get a grip looting Lenny this is another disastrous scam you have tried for your own ego ! The other goptrump cult members are laughing at you stupid!
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