Covid-19 Infections Reach The 60,000 Mark For The First Time In Florida

From the Florida Phoenix:

By Diane Rado

A day after Gov. Ron DeSantis announced “Phase 2” of reopening Florida and loosening restrictions that impact daily life, the state for the first time reached the 60,000 mark in COVID-19 infections.

The Florida Department of Health on Thursday reported exactly 60,183 infections — up from 58,764 on Wednesday.

The death toll was reported as 2,607 deaths, up from 2,566 the day before.

DeSantis had excluded the big southeast counties of Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach from the Phase 2 plan that includes reopening bars, movie theaters and other activities, with limitations.

Those three counties have been at the epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic and have had the highest numbers of infections and deaths.

As of Thursday, the state health department reported 18,779 infections in Miami–Dade; 7,462 in Broward and 6,688 in Palm Beach County — all up from the day before.

On March 1, DeSantis announced two coronavirus cases. Some three months later, infections are above 60,000.

As of Wednesday, the New York Times’ tracking of coronavirus deaths and infections shows Florida behind several states in both categories, based on an analysis of 100,000 per people to each case.

Florida ranked 35 of the 50 states on Wednesday for number of infections based on 100,000 per people, well below New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut.

Florida ranked 27 of the 50 states for coronavirus deaths.

This story was originally published by the Florida Phoenix. For more stories from the Florida Phoenix, visit FloridaPhoenix.com.