By the Numbers

As of Friday afternoon, there are 1,449,9252 total cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Florida, an increase of 19,530 since FDOH’s last update Thursday, the second largest single-day increase of new COVID-19 cases since the pandemic began. The last three days have resulted in the three highest recorded case totals in a single-day report since the pandemic began (17,783 cases Jan. 6; 19,816 Jan. 7).

Test results reported to the Department of Health on Thursday, Jan. 7, resulted in an 11.46% positivity rate among 193,644 tests.

The state saw its highest daily percentage of positive patients on Dec. 29 when 22.75% percent of tests reported were positive among 62,303 tests.

Positivity rates in new cases have topped 10% in 11 of the last 12 days. Percent positivity rates in new cases have been over 5% since Oct. 29.

Of those testing positive, 65,063 Florida residents have been hospitalized at some point during their illness according to the state.

The death toll increased by 194 from Thursday’s report, bringing the total number of deaths, both resident and non-resident, to 23,011.

According to the state, hospitalizations in Lee County, and statewide in Florida, make up 5 percent of all positive cases. Deaths statewide and in Lee County stand at 2% of positive cases.

On Dec. 27, 974 people were given the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine throughout the state according to FDOH. The total number vaccinated as of Friday throughout Florida was 443,626 with 17,367 being in Lee County. According to the state, 24,200 individuals have received their first and second doses, 36 of those being in Lee County.

In Lee County, 44,395 individuals (+524) have tested positive as of Friday’s update.

Positive COVID-19 cases in the county have ranged from infants to a 103-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 708 deaths in Lee County, an increase of 13 from Thursday’s report.

As of Friday afternoon, Lee Health had 200 COVID-19 patients isolated in system inpatient hospitals, including 29 new admissions and 29 discharges since Thursday.

A total of 4,242 patients who had tested positive have been discharged since the beginning of the pandemic.

On Thursday, Lee Health had a 26.3% 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.

Census as of Friday afternoon was at 97% of staffed operational bed capacity, with 14.2% 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 Friday, 74% of ventilators and 7% of ICU rooms are available for use across Lee Health facilities.

As of Friday, there were seven COVID-19 patients on ventilators and 29 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.

— Connect with this reporter on Twitter: @haddad_cj