Hard Hit FL County Moves To Phase 2 Of Reopening; 100 New Deaths

TALLAHASSEE, FL — Florida health officials reported 100 new deaths and another 3,198 cases of the coronavirus Friday as Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed an order allowing hard hit Palm Beach County to move into phase two of reopening. That leaves only Broward and Miami-Dade counties in phase one.

"We have the latitude and discretion to open the remaining part of our economy safely and effectively," Palm Beach County Mayor Dave Kerner told reporters Friday. His county will begin its phase two reopening on Tuesday but that will not include the reopening of bars, which remain shuttered across the state.

The School District of Palm Beach County announced Friday night that it will reopen brick and mortar schools on Sept. 21, but parents will have the option to continue distance learning for their children.

The South Florida county recorded a daily positivity rate of 3.6 percent on Friday, which is among the lowest in the state, according to Kerner.

Phase two allows for the reopening of bowling alleys, escape rooms, movie theaters, play houses, skating centers, trampoline centers and other indoor entertainment venues. Restaurants and food establishments will operate at a greater capacity amid relaxed rules.

Retail establishments can operate at full capacity as can museums and libraries and personal services, including massage parlors, body piercing, tattooing, licensed acupuncture, gyms and fitness centers.

"We have gone through some difficult times in this county as it relates to the pandemic," Kerner said. "After the executive order is executed, I would say that probably close to 95 to 98 percent of businesses in this county will be back open in some form or fashion."

Twenty-eight of Florida's 67 counties reported 100 new deaths Friday. Those counties include Brevard, Broward, Charlotte, Citrus, Collier, Miami-Dade, Duval, Escambia, Hernando, Indian River, Jackson, Lake, Lee, Levy, Manatee, Marion, Martin, Okaloosa, Okeechobee, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pinellas, Polk, Santa Rosa, Sarasota, Seminole, Wakulla and Washington counties.

That compares to 151 new deaths Thursday (state health officials reported 149), 128 new deaths Wednesday (health officials reported 127), 187 new deaths Tuesday, 68 new deaths Monday, 14 new deaths Sunday, 148 new deaths Saturday and 94 new deaths last Friday (state health officials reported 89).

The total number of positive cases of the coronavirus in Florida climbed to 640,211, up from 637,013 a day earlier.

Health officials reported the state's 23rd day of daily positivity under 10 percent. The daily positivity rate is calculated by taking the number of people who test PCR-or antigen-positive for the first time divided by all the people tested that day, excluding people who have previously tested positive.

Florida's overall positivity rate, which is cumulative, was at 13.49 percent as of Friday based on 4,747,072 total tests.

See related:

• Florida Governor Extends Suspension Of Evictions, Foreclosures
• Florida Health Officials Sever Ties With Quest Diagnostics
• Miami Schools Hit By Massive Cyberattack On First Day Of Classes
• Miami School Glitch Fixed; Classes Start Tuesday
• University Of Miami Reports Nearly 100 Coronavirus Cases
• Dolphins Announce Return Of Fans To Hard Rock Stadium
• A 3 Hour Pop-Up Coronavirus Test Site In St. Pete
• Miami-Area Restaurants Get Forks Up To Reopen Indoor Dining
• Florida Teachers Win Court Ruling In Back-To-School Challenge
• Dolphins Announce Return Of Fans To Hard Rock Stadium

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Miami-Dade, which includes Miami and Miami Beach, reported 160,469 cases of the virus as of Friday. Nearby Broward County, which includes Fort Lauderdale, reported 72,880 cases. Palm Beach County, which includes Palm Beach, West Palm and Boca Raton, reported 42,762 cases.

Hillsborough County, which includes Tampa, reported 37,981 cases of the virus while Orange County, which includes Orlando, reported 36,827 cases.

Sarasota County, which includes the city of Sarasota, reported 7,338 cases of the virus. Manatee County, which includes Bradenton, reported 10,601 cases. Pinellas County reported 20,259 cases of the virus while Pasco County reported 8,230 cases. Polk County, which includes Lakeland, reported 17,566 cases of the virus.

The total number of deaths in Florida climbed to 11,750 Friday, up from 11,650 a day earlier. Florida's most recent one-day record of 276 reported deaths was set on Aug. 11. Health officials reported another 153 deaths involving non-Florida residents who died in Florida.

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The state reported 39,667 hospitalizations, up from 39,428 hospitalizations a day earlier. That represents an increase of 239 new hospitalizations over the previous day.

State health officials also reported a total of 3,363 current hospitalizations with a primary diagnosis of COVID-19, down from 3,437 current hospitalizations a day earlier.

Patch's County-By-County Coronavirus Data

In an effort to provide as much information to our readers as possible, Patch has been publishing a daily 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.

Based on the declining daily positivity rates in Florida, Patch has decided the time has come to suspend publication of the county-by-county chart.

We will continue to bring you daily updates on the coronavirus pandemic in Florida as well as county-specific information for the counties in our coverage area.