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New cases of COVID-19 continue to decrease locally, throughout the state

By Staff | Aug 18, 2020

By the Numbers

As of 11 a.m. Tuesday, there are 579,932 total cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Florida, an increase of 3,838 since FDOH’s last update Monday morning.

More than 56,800 test results were reported to the Department of Health on Sunday, Aug. 16. Of those reported tests, 7.91 percent tested positive.

The state saw its highest daily percentage of positive patients July 8, when 18.5 percent of tests reported were positive among 51,686 tests. The overall percent positivity since the beginning of the pandemic in Florida residents is 13.53.

The death toll increased by 219 from yesterday’s update reported among Lee, Bay, Brevard, Broward, Charlotte, Citrus, Clay, Collier, Dade, Desoto, Duval, Escambia, Gadsden, Gulf, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Lafayette, Lake, Madison, Manatee, Marion, Okaloosa, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pinellas, Polk, Santa Rosa, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns, St. Lucie, Sumter, Suwannee and Volusia counties.

This does not mean all of the deaths occurred or were reported by local health care facilities on that day but that they were released in the state report that day after reports were processed.

A total of 4,285,720 individuals have been tested: 3,699,108 have tested negative, 6,680 tests were inconclusive and 3,814 tests are pending results. Of those testing positive, 34,694 Florida residents have been hospitalized at some point during their illness according to the state. There have been 9,893 deaths.

The age groups of Florida residents that have yielded the most positive test results are 25-34 years old (19%), followed by 35-44(16%), 45-54 (16%) and 15-24(15%).

The highest hospitalization rate is found in patients 65-74 (19%), 75-84 (18%) and 55-64 (18%) years old.

In Lee County, 17,495 (+52) individuals have tested positive as of 11 a.m. Tuesday; 7,078 in Fort Myers, 4,006 in Cape Coral, 3,495 in Lehigh Acres, 1,128 in Bonita Springs, 648 in North Fort Myers, 398 in Estero, 107 in Alva, 76 on Fort Myers Beach, 41 in Sanibel, 34 in Bokeelia, 26 in Saint James City, 17 in Tice, 14 on Matlacha, four in Buckingham, four in Boca Grande, three on Captiva, three in Miromar Lakes, two in San Carlos Park, one in South Fort Myers and one in Immokalee; 111 cases were not identified by community.

Positive COVID-19 cases in the county have ranged from infants to a 101-year-old. Lee County saw its first two cases on March 7, when a man and a woman, each 77, tested positive. They had traveled to the Dominican Republic.

There have been 384 (+9) deaths in Lee County; 210 (+7) of those deaths were reported in residents or staff of long-term care facilities.

As of Tuesday, Lee Health had 140 COVID-19 patients isolated in system inpatient hospitals, including 15 new admissions on Monday.

A total of 2,337 patients who had tested positive have been discharged since the beginning of the pandemic, including 11 yesterday.

On Monday, Lee Health had a 14.7% positivity rate on COVID-19 tests processed through Lee Health Labs. This represents Lee Health results only, not Lee County as a whole. Hospital positivity rates tend to be higher as the tests are performed on patients seeking treatment for a health issue, not the general public that includes asymptomatic individuals.

Current census is at 87(+5)% of staffed operational bed capacity, with 11.7(-.9)% of those being COVID-19 patients. Staffed operational capacity reflects the number of beds for which the hospital has adequate staffing, not the total number of beds within Lee Health hospitals. Overall bed capacity fluctuates hour to hour as the system discharges patients throughout the day who are ready to go home.

As of Tuesday, 70(+1)% of ventilators and 17(-1)% of ICU rooms are available for use across Lee Health facilities.

There are currently 17(-4) COVID-19 patients on ventilators and 25(-5) in the intensive care unit.

COVID-19 is a highly contagious viral disease. For most individuals, symptoms are mild. For a minority, the disease becomes a type of viral pneumonia with severe complications. Especially at risk are those who are older, those with underlying health conditions and the immune-compromised.

Officials strongly urge all members of the public who are at risk to remain at home so as to limit exposure. All others are urged to observe social distancing and to wear a mask for all public interactions.

For more detail on Florida resident cases, visit the live DOH Dashboard.

To find the most up-to-date information and guidance on COVID-19, visit the Department of Health’s dedicated COVID-19 webpage. For information and advisories from the Centers for Disease Control, visit the CDC COVID-19 website. For more information about current travel advisories issued by the U.S. Department of State, visit the travel advisory website.

For any other questions related to COVID-19 in Florida, contact the Department’s dedicated COVID-19 Call Center by calling 1-866-779-6121. The Call Center is available 24 hours per day. Inquiries may also be emailed to COVID-19@flhealth.gov.