Kelly Hayes
Pinellas County reached the grim marker of 1,000 deaths from COVID-19 on Monday, according to Florida Department of Health data released Tuesday.
Pinellas County had two deaths from the virus on Sunday, which brought the total number of deaths in the county to 999, according to data released Monday morning. Officials confirmed another death Monday.
The county also saw its highest test positivity rate since Dec. 14, reporting a rate of 7.92% on Monday; on Dec. 14, the county reported a rate of 8.8%, a high from the average around 7% in the last week.
Pinellas County saw 304 new cases on Monday, reporting 40,381 positive COVID-19 cases since the onset of the pandemic. The county also added 11 new hospitalizations on Monday.
In neighboring Hillsborough County, 521 new cases were reported on Monday. So far, Hillsborough has seen 70,748 cases. The county also reported a positivity rate of 8.46% on Monday after a concerning 10.52% on Sunday.
Hillsborough County surpassed 1,000 reported deaths last Tuesday, and confirmed four additional deaths from the virus on Monday, bringing the county’s death toll to 1,038. The county saw 10 additional hospitalizations as well.
Cases have been spiking across the Bay area, and in response, local leaders have been cracking down on businesses in hopes of mitigating the spread while the public awaits mass-vaccine distribution.
Over the weekend, the city of Tampa performed 179 inspections at bars and restaurants, which led to 12 citations.
At a meeting last Thursday, St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman announced the city of St. Pete has so far issued 189 citations in regard to COVID-19 ordinances. And, at the start of December, Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri came down hard on businesses, especially bars and restaurants, that were non-compliant.
The good news: Tampa General Hospital has received about 20,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. The hospital will be vaccinating health care workers with the initial shipment, including those outside of the TGH system across the Bay area. Long-term care facilities in Pinellas County are also starting to vaccinate residents and workers.
