Florida's COVID Death Toll Has Surpassed 8,000; Infections At More Than 525,000 Cases

From the Florida Phoenix:

By Diane Rado
August 8, 2020

The state Department of Health on Saturday reported 8,109 deaths of Florida residents, an increase of more than 1,000 deaths compared to just a week ago.

The data posted Saturday showed 182 additional deaths, pushing the death toll to above the 8,000 mark. (Last Saturday’s figure was 7,022 deaths.)

Of the current total deaths reported, 3,462 were from staffers or residents of long-term care facilities.

Miami-Dade County has the largest number of deaths, 1,835, following by Palm Beach, 929, and Broward, 789, according to state health data analyzed by the Florida Phoenix. Those three counties have been at the epicenter of the COVID-19 crisis in Florida.

Pinellas, Hillsborough, Lee, Polk and Orange counties have reported at least 200 deaths. All 67 counties have at least one death, the data show.

The average age of death is 76.7 according to the data, with more men dying than women.

In a New York Times analysis of COVID-19 deaths, Florida now ranks 6th in the number of deaths among the 50 states, but 17th in the number of deaths per 100,000 people. New Jersey and New York have the highest death rates of the 50 states.

As to infections, the Florida Department Health on Saturday reported 526,577 COVID-19 cases.

Only Florida and California have climbed to the 500,000 mark in COVID infections, with California at 548,142 cases.

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