303 FL Elder Care Centers Hit By Coronavirus As Cases Top 25K

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL — The number of coronavirus cases in Florida climbed to 25,492 Saturday night as state health officials for the first time began releasing the names of elder care facilities that have reported cases of the virus among staff or residents.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said earlier Saturday that a total of 1,623 cases were reported in the state in nursing homes and assisted living facilities since the outbreak began in early March.

"In some of these, the outbreak has affected the staff more," DeSantis said.

Many of the elder care facilities that have reported cases of the virus are located in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach Counties, which account for some 60 percent of the total coronavirus cases in the state. But others were in counties where the outbreak has not been nearly as severe.

Click here. to see the complete list of elder care facilities that have reported cases of the virus as released by the Florida Department of Health.

DeSantis also announced Saturday that public schools in the state would remain closed for the remainder of the school year. See Florida To Keep Classrooms Shut Down For Remainder Of School Year

The number of deaths in Florida from the virus rose to 748 as of Saturday night, up from 726 during the previous 24-hour period.

Broward County reported eight new deaths. Miami-Dade reported three new deaths. Escambia County reported two new deaths as did Manatee County and St. Lucie County. Lake County reported one more death as did Volusia County.

Jacksonville's Duval County reopened its beaches Friday night despite a number of new cases of the virus.

Saturday's total represents an increase of 739 confirmed coronavirus cases during the previous 24-hour period.

There were a total of 3,745 hospitalizations from the virus in Florida as of Saturday night. The state had a 10.1 percent positive test rate out of 253,183 total tests, which amounts to about one test per 87 or 88 residents, according to DeSantis.

Two walk-up testing sites in Broward County began full operation Saturday at Mitchell Moore Park in Pompano Beach and the Urban League of Broward County in Fort Lauderdale. The new test sites are operated by 60 Florida National Guard representatives, the Broward Sheriff's Office and the Florida Department of Health. Call 954-412-7300 to make an appointment.

Miami-Dade reported 9,045 cases as of Saturday night, more than any Florida County. Broward County, which includes Fort Lauderdale, reported 3,838 cases. Palm Beach County, which includes West Palm Beach, reported 2,138 cases.

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Hillsborough County, which includes Tampa, reported 943 cases as of Saturday. Orange County, which includes Orlando, reported 1,180 cases.

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In an attempt to provide as much information to our readers as possible, Patch is publishing a county-by-county breakdown of the coronavirus cases in Florida's 67 counties, along with the median age of patients, the number of hospital cases by county and the number of deaths.

Patch is updating this data twice each day as available from the Florida Department of Health. Here is the most recent data: