Janelle Irwin Taylor
Hillsborough County tallied 550 new cases of COVID-19, the most in at least the last week and a number that is trending higher and higher as the county sees a steady increase in new infections.
The cases tallied from Monday morning to Tuesday morning, according to Florida Department of Health data released Tuesday, is up from Monday’s repot, which saw just 323 new cases, though Monday reports typically show fewer new cases because it covers data confirmed on a Sunday.
Last week the county had days that also hit the 500s including in Thursday’s report when 539 cases were reported and Wednesday’s report when 521 cases were confirmed.
The county’s pandemic-wide total is now up too 62,149.
Pinellas is experiencing a similar trend in rising case number, though still not to the extent its neighbor to the east is experiencing. Pinellas confirmed 303 new cases, the same as the day prior. Last week the county typically reported around 250-300 new cases daily, with Thursday’s report topping the week at 364 cases.
Both counties are watching as virus positivity rates slowly creep upward. Hillsborough’s positivity rate for new tests tallied Monday was 7.16%, up from 6.13% on Sunday. The seven-day average is now 7.43%, slightly higher than the two week average of 7.37%, which shows a slow, but steady climb.
In Pinellas, Monday’s positivity rate was 8.46%, up from 6.99% Sunday. Still, the county’s seven-day average remains lower than Hillsborough’s at 6.41%. It’s two-week average though shows a steeper climb that Hillsborough at 6.06%.
Hillsborough County saw more tests received Monday than the day prior, at 5,186 up from 4,856, a trend that typically occurs from Monday to Tuesday reports. However, Pinellas County actually saw a dip in new tests confirmed with 2,738 Monday and 3,858 Sunday. The reduction in tests results, paired with a higher positivity rate could mean more cases are yet to be accounted for in Pinellas County.
Both counties also continue to add to their death tolls with Hillsborough confirming two additional deaths Monday for a total of 969 and Pinellas confirming a staggering nine new deaths, arriving at a total of 939. Hillsborough added 31 new deaths to its toll over the past week while Pinellas added 28.
