What to Know
- Florida again set a daily record for new COVID-19 cases Wednesday with more than 5,500 confirmed
- The new cases pushed Florida's total to more than 109,000
- Miami-Dade and Broward have combined for nearly 40,000 cases
Florida shattered its daily record for new coronavirus cases Wednesday with more than 5,500 confirmed.
The 5,506 new COVID-19 cases pushed the state's total to 109,014, according to figures released by the Florida Department of Health.
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Florida had previously set the daily record of 4,049 COVID-19 cases on Saturday.
Another 44 new deaths related to the virus were confirmed Wednesday, bringing the state's total to 3,281.
Statewide, more than 1,669,400 people have been tested for COVID-19, with the percent positive around 6%. More than 13,500 hospitalizations for COVID-19 have been reported in Florida to-date.
In South Florida, Miami-Dade County had 27,779 total cases as of Wednesday, while Broward had 12,217. Palm Beach County had 11,536 cases and Monroe had 174.
The rapidly escalating daily figures continue a trend that began when Florida started reopening its economy last month. In response, several counties and cities have implemented emergency orders requiring the wearing of masks in public places like stores and cracking down on businesses that aren't enforcing social distancing rules.
After a month of decline, hospital admissions for coronavirus also have been rising, with a daily average of 161 statewide over the past week, a 30% jump over two weeks ago. Still, that is about 25% below the state's peak in early May.
State and health officials have said the new cases have skewed younger in recent weeks and have been more likely to be mild or asymptomatic, which has kept the hospitalization and death totals below their peaks.
They’ve cited lax adherence to state guidelines on distancing and hygiene while socializing as a key reason for the surge.
At a news conference in Hialeah Gardens Wednesday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis stressed the importance of social distancing, good hygiene and wearing masks. DeSantis hasn't issued a statewide order requiring masks in public, as some Democratic lawmakers pushed for Wednesday.
He also said it was important to avoid closed spaces with poor ventilation.
"In Florida, you know it's hot, but that sunshine, heat and humidity is your friend," DeSantis said. "When you're in an enclosed space, particularly if you don't have social distancing, if it's like a private party or something like that, and you're cramped in with bad ventilation, you're gonna have more spread."
