Florida’s positive COVID-19 cases have exceeded the 100,000 mark, according to the most recent Florida Department of Health data available on the morning of June 22.
The state figures show Florida had 100,217 positive cases, including 98,047 Florida residents and 2,170 non-residents.
The state’s death toll stood at 3,173, including a 17-year-old male from Pasco County, whose death was recorded on June 19 in Florida Department of Health records.
Pasco County Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning announced Monday that he tested positive for COVID-19.
A news release from the school district said Browning experienced relatively minor symptoms, including fever, chills and general achiness since June 18, which led him to be tested.
The test came back positive on June 20, and Browning now is in isolation at home.
Gov. Ron DeSantis addressed the state’s rising numbers during a news conference on June 20.
He said the increase of positive cases results partially from widespread testing, but he also said that people in the 20-to-30 age group that are testing positive at a higher rate.
“Our cases are shifting in a radical direction, younger,” DeSantis said.
The governor said the state’s Department of Business and Professional Regulation will be enforcing social distancing requirements in businesses it regulates, with the aim of creating greater compliance with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance.
“You do hear reports about people just jampacked into some of these places,” DeSantis said.
The CDC’s guidance calls for maintaining a social distance of 6 feet.
“If you can’t social distance, it’s recommended you wear some kind of face covering,” DeSantis said. He doesn’t anticipate making that a state requirement, but he said he hopes people will do what they can to avoid spreading the virus.
The governor also reiterated the need for elderly people, and those with significant underlying conditions, to avoid crowds and take other measures to avoid exposure.
Despite the rising number of positive cases, DeSantis said Florida’s hospitals are well-positioned to treat COVID-19 patients.
“The whole reason the mitigation was done was to flatten the curve, so the hospitals wouldn’t be overwhelmed,” DeSantis said.
He also noted: “We have way fewer patients on ventilators today than we did in April.
“The ICU COVID hospitalizations are significantly down from where they were,” he added.
Plus, “daily fatalities have continued to trend down,” he said.
As of the morning of June 21, the national death toll stood at 119,615, which was 560 more than the previous day, according to the CDC. The national number of positive cases exceeded 2.2 million, including 32,411 more cases than the day before.
The Hillsborough Emergency Policy Group has approved a requirement that face coverings be worn by employees and patrons when social distancing is not possible within businesses.
The order will apply for seven days only, unless renewed.
Under the order, business operators must enforce the requirement for face coverings, except for categories exempted in the order. Individuals cannot be charged for failing to wear masks.
The emergency policy group approved the order on a 5-3 vote on June 22, after extensive discussion among policy group members, testimony supporting the requirement from the medical community, and public support and opposition.
Florida COVID-19
Positive cases, last 14 days
June 8: 1,151
June 9: 1,225
June 10: 1,655
June 11: 1,634
June 12: 2,319
June 13: 2,125
June 14: 1,767
June 15: 2,698
June 16: 2,420
June 17: 2,699
June 18: 3,308
June 19: 4,023
June 20: 4,664
June 21: 2,779
Case totals
Statewide: 100,217, including 98,047 Florida residents; 2,170 non-residents
Pasco County: 872, including 861 Florida residents, 11 non-residents
Hillsborough County: 5,973, including 5,904 Florida residents, 69 non-residents
Death counts
Statewide: 3,173
Pasco County: 17
Hillsborough County: 115
(Most recent data available)
Published June 24, 2020
