WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Palm Beach County's daily first-time positivity rate rose to the highest percentage in two months, 8.27 percent, which was higher than the state's 6.31 rate. Also, Florida reported an additional 4,298 coronavirus cases, the fourth time in 10 days they were more than 4,000, as deaths increased by 56, which is 28 below last Tuesday's number, the Florida Health Department announced.
The state's data on fatalities and infections traditionally increase after weekend information.
In a revision of information, the state no longer is listing overall positive rates in the state and counties, as well as total tests because the "previously reported cumulative number did not reflect the current status of the pandemic in Florida," Jason Mahan, the agency's communications director, said in an email to WPTV. "This change is in line with the CDC recommendation that calculation of percent positivity, applied consistently and with clear communication, will allow public health officials to follow magnitude and trends effectively, and the trends will be useful for local public health decision making.”
The state has considered anything about 5 percent a danger "threshold."
"Increasing daily positivity is not good because that tells us that the virus is occurring and its occurring more frequently in the community people becoming positive," Alina Alonso, the health director in the county, told commissioners Tuesday.
Palm Beach County's positivity rate is usually a lower rate than the state. The county's first-time percentage, which was based on 3,994 negative tests, was the highest since 8.81 on Aug. 10. One day before, the county's rate was 6.05 and the previous time it was above 6 percent was 6.84 percent on Sept. 21, not including a date dump when it was 8.68 two weeks ago. The two-week low was 2.60 on Aug. 18 and it was 1.92 on Oct. 11, which was the smallest since 1.5 percent on May 19.
Florida's first-time daily infection rate of tests reported by labs Monday increased to 6.31 percent one day after 5.91 percent, a two-week high of 6.72 six days ago and a low of 3.65 three days ago.
The state's total daily positivity rate for all tests increased to 7.78 percent on 73,775 tests received Monday from 7.63 on 61,503 tests. The 14-day high was 8.02 six days ago. Only 20,987 tests were reported Sept. 27 and the record test total was 142,964 July 11.
Cases have risen for three days in a row. They increased by 3,377 Monday, the most on a Monday since 4,155 on Aug. 10. On Sunday they rose by 2,385 after 4,471 on Saturday. On Thursday they climbed by 5,557, the most since 6,352 on Aug. 15, not including two days' worth of data on Oct. 11 and 7,569 for one day on Sept. 1, which were both because of infection dumps. The increase one Saturday ago was 4,044.
On Monday, Sept. 29, the 738 cases were fewest since June 2 when there were 617 additional infections. Then, they then increased to 3,266 on Tuesday, Sept. 30
Although infections in Florida are trending upward like in most other states in the nation, new cases are exponentially lower than its U.S. daily high of 15,300 in July.
Deaths rose by 20 Monday and by 12 on Sunday, the least since 5 on Sept. 23 after 77 on Saturday after 73 Friday and 57 Thursday. Last Tuesday's increase was 84. The previous low was 41 on Oct. 5.
The last time there was a triple-digit increase was 105 Wednesday, and they were last highest 141 on Thursday, Oct. 15. The record was 276 deaths on Tuesday, Aug. 11.
Palm Beach County's deaths increased by 3 to 1,565, which is second to Miami-Dade and ahead of Broward after an increase of 1 Monday.
On the Treasure Coast, St. Lucie rose by 2 to 321, Martin remained 164 and Indian River stayed at 125. Okeechobee is still 38 with its first two fatalities on July 25.
Broward decreased by 1 with a revision of a case and Miami-Dade rose by 9.
With a net increase of 13 deaths in South Florida of the 56 state total, which is 23.2 percent, there are 7,367, which is 44.6 percent of the state figure though the population only comprises 30 percent.
Since the first two deaths were announced on March 6, which is 235 days, the death toll has reached 16,505 for an average of 70 per day. Florida's total including nonresidents is 16,709, which increased by 1 to 204.
In one week cases have risen by 25,922 for an average of 3,703 at 3.4 percent. The previous week the increase was 21,640 with an average of 3,091.
The number of deaths over one week is 400, an average of 57, compared with 574 the previous week.
State and county increases represent fatalities received by the state Monday and not the number of deaths that occurred then. The day someone dies and when it is received by the state can lag for several days. The most deaths the past month: 60 on Oct. 7.
The state report Tuesday identified 66 deaths with 10 previously reported cases deleted as fatalities for a net increase of 56.
Florida's total of 786,311 cases is 9.0 percent of the total infections in the U.S. though the state only comprises 6.5 percent of the population.
On Sunday, Sept. 27, cases passed 700,000 after surpassing 600,000 more than one month ago, Aug. 23.
Palm Beach County's daily cases increased by 361 one day after 291. On Sept. 28, the rise was 27.
Florida's new hospitalizations rose by 231 compared with 74 the day before. The state reported Tuesday there are currently 2,347 hospitalized with a primary diagnosis of COVID-19, which is 99 more than Monday.
Deaths
Since June 16, Florida has climbed seven spots from 11th place in the nation to fourth.
Texas is in second place with the addition of a U.S.-high 81 deaths Tuesday after a state-record 324 on Aug. 11, for a total of 17,595. California reported 43 and is in third place with 17,400. New Jersey, which had been second throughout the pandemic, is in fifth place with 16,306, adding 14 fatalities.
It took 12 days for Florida's death toll to go from 15,000 milestone to 16,000, the same to surpass that figure Oct. 7, but nine days to surpass 14,000 and eight to go past 12,000. It was 49 days for Florida's death toll of residents to reach the first 1,000 yet it was only 40 days to more than double. More than three months ago, July 20, there were 5,075 deaths.
Deaths have had upward and lower trends since the pandemic in Florida. A few months ago they were averaging more than 1,200 a week with one-week figures earlier in the mid 200s.
Palm Beach County increased by 64 deaths over seven days for 4.3 percent. The U.S. figure is 2.5 percent with the world at 3.7 percent.
Miami-Dade rose to 3,624 with 63 more in seven days. Broward is at 1,520 with an increase of just 3. St. Lucie has gone up by 11 deaths compared with Martin by 6, Indian River by 2 and Okeechobee by 1.
Palm Beach County's death count is higher than 20 states, including Kentucky's 1,428 with 18 reported Tuesday.
Pinellas rose by 2 to 818 deaths in fourth place, Hillsborough by 3 to 762 in fifth, Polk by 1 to 615 in sixth, Orange stayed at 546 in seventh and Lee by 3 to 509 in eighth.
The state report Tuesday identified 4 deaths in Palm Beach County though the increase as 3 with three women (63, 81, 92) and an 86-year-old man. St. Lucie County identified two women (59, 79).
Cases
Since the first two cases were announced on March 1, Florida's total has surged to 3.7 percent of the state's 21.48 million population with 786,311, third in the nation and eighth in cases per million. The average over 240 days is 3,276 per day.
California has the most cases in the U.S. at 904,198 with 3,188 more Tuesday. Texas had a U.S.-high 7,055 and is second overall with 74,367. New York, which was the leader during much of the pandemic, is in fourth at 498,646 with an increase of 1,991. No. 11 Wisconsin reported 5,262 and No. 5 Illinois 4,000.
In Palm Beach County, new cases have been much lower since the record 1,171 July 5. The total now is 51,172, including residents and nonresidents.
Miami-Dade's cases were 727 compared with 581 the day before and Broward's increase was 376 vs. 512. In the Treasure Coast area, the rise over one day was Martin 20 vs. 9 the day before, St. Lucie 59 vs. 29, Indian River 27 vs. 23 and Okeechobee 7 vs. 10.
Testing
Florida's total number of people tested is 6,060,400 with an additional reported 68,332, which is 28.2 percent of the state's population behind No. 1 California, No. 2 New York, No. 3 Texas and No. 4 Illinois. Florida is seventh lowest in the nation in tests per million at 280.375.
In Palm Beach County, the last time the first-time rate has been above 10.0 percent was 10.2 percent on Aug. 4.
Miami-Dade's rate climbed to 5.59 percent one day after a two-week high of 5.83 and a two-week low of 2.45 three days ago. The rate hit 26.4 on July 8. Broward's rate was 5.80 percent after a 14-day high of 6.90 and a two-week low of 2.82 three days ago.
Elsewhere, St. Lucie's rate was 9.04 percent after 3.9 one day ago, a two-week high of 9.34 six days ago and a low of 3.64 Oct. 15. Martin's rate was 5.43 percent after 3.03 a two-week low of 1.03 Oct. 17 and a two-week high of 6.94 Oct. 16. Indian River's rate was 7.12 percent after 6.1, a two-week high of 8.78 two days ago and a low of 2.59 on Oct. 13. Okeechobee's rate was 10.61 percent on 59 negative tests after 13.51 on 64 negative tests, a two-week high of 15.66 on 70 tests seven days ago and a low of 1.15 on 172 negative tests four days ago.
Mortality rate
The mortality rate compares positive cases against deaths.
The state's rate was 2.1 percent for all deaths and cases, including nonresidents, compared with 2.6 percent in the United States and 2.6 percent worldwide, which passed 1,171,000 deaths and passed 44.2 million cases Tuesday, according to Worldometers.info.
Palm Beach County's rate is 3.1 percent compared with Broward at 1.8 percent and Miami-Dade with 2.0 percent. With much fewer deaths, the mortality rate is 3.7 percent in St. Lucie, 3.1 in Martin, 3.4 percent in Indian River and Okeechobee 2.2 percent, which is the highest ever.
Florida has 769 deaths per 1 million people, which ranks 10th in the nation compared with the U.S. average of 700 per million. New York, which represents 14.8 percent of the deaths in the nation, has 1,727 per million. Worldwide, the figure is 150.3 per million.
Age breakdown
Five deaths are among youths 14 and under, a 6-year-old from Hillsborough, a 9-year-year old from Putnam, two 11-year-olds, a boy in Miami-Dade and a girl in Broward, as well as a 12-year-girl from Duval.
Four other juveniles are among the 31 deaths in the 15-24 class, including a 16-year-old girl in Miami-Dade, a 16-year-old girl in Lee, a 17-year-old boy in Pasco and a 17-year-old boy in Manatee. This class decreased by 1.
Ninety-eight people from 25 to 34 also have died from the virus with a decrease of 1.
A total of 5,267 people 85 and older have died in the state from the virus, an increase of 13 in one day.
Ninety-three percent of the fatalities are 55 and older and 61 percent are 75 and older. A smaller percentage of older people have tested positive – 28 percent age 55 and older and 7 percent 75 and older.
At the other end of the age spectrum, there are 13,098 cases of infants to 4 years old, an increase of 43, and 316 were hospitalized, which went up by 1. From ages 5-14, there are 34,150, an increase of 227, with 294 in the hospital at one time, which went up by 1.
From the infant to 54 age group, there are 559,814 of the 776,215 residents' cases. In that group, 1,088 have died, with an increase of 5, for a 0.19 death percentage. From infant to 64, there are 660,587 cases. A total of 2,911 have died, with 14 more, for a 0.44 percentage.
Cities
West Palm Beach is in first place among Palm Beach County cities with 12,351 with an increase of 79. Lake Worth, which includes the city and county portion, increased by 49 to 8,402, followed by Boca Raton at 7,741 up from 7,684, Boynton Beach went to 4,515 from 4,484 and Delray Beach at 3,489 vs. 3,469. A total of 1,470 in the county not designated by a city. In addition, the list of cities includes separate listings of misspellings and miscoded counties.
Port St. Lucie leads the Treasure Coast with 5,293, an increase of 37, followed by Fort Pierce at 3,048, up 18, and Stuart with 2,451, which rose by 8.
In Indian River County, Fellsmere, which has a population of 5,754, increased by 1 to 428 compared with only 3 on May 31.
Hospitalizations
A total of 48,512 people in the state have been hospitalized, a rise from 47,352 seven days ago. That means it is a running total and includes people who have been released or died.
The number is 4,119 in Palm Beach County, with an increase of 30 compared with 3 the day before. Martin remained at 421, St. Lucie by 4 to 776, Indian River by 15 to 343 and Okeechobee remained by 3 to 195.
Long-term care
Forty percent of the deaths, 6,664 are residents and staff of long-term care, including 713 in Palm Beach County, which is second most in the state behind 842 in Miami-Dade. The state increase was 16 and Palm Beach County didn't change.
Nation
Since the first death was reported on Feb. 29, the national toll has risen to 226.613, a rise of 907, according to Johns Hopkins. Worldometers.info has tabulated 232,084 deaths with an increase of 1,039
Cases rose to 8,774,093, a rise of 72,243, behind 83,718 Saturday and the record of 83,757 Friday. COVID Tracking Project lists the case increase as 73,096, behind the mark of 83,010 three days earlier.
Last Tuesday in the U.S., there were 933 more deaths and 60,330 cases.
The one week U.S. death increase was 5,561 at 2.5 percent.
New York has the most deaths in the nation at 33,433, with Johns Hopkins reporting 9 more after a high of 799 in April. Hopkins lists confirmed and probable deaths, with the latter not a positive case.
Among other states in the top 10 for deaths: No. 6 Massachusetts 7, No. 7 Illinois 46, No. 8 Pennsylvania 23, No. 9 Georgia 17 and No. 10 Michigan 33.
Wisconsin reported a state-record 64 and is 24th overall.
Also, No. 11 Arizona reported 16 deaths, as well as an additional 1,158 cases. Washington, the original epicenter in the United States, reported 10.
Worldwide
The U.S. represented 14.8 percent of 7,023 additional deaths Tuesday, the most since 7,048 on Aug. 5, and 19.8 percent of the world total though its population is only 4.3 percent of the global total.
The one week world death increase was 42,328 at 3.7 percent.
Last Tuesday's death increase was 6,178.
Cases increased by 459,020 four days after a record 490,737 and passing 400,000 one week ago Friday for the first time, according to Worldometers.info.
Brazil has been trending down in deaths and cases. The nation, which is second behind the United States for deaths, reported 519 deaths Tuesday to rise to 157,981. Brazil's record is 1,554 on July 29. The nation added 29,353 cases at 5,440,903 in third place.
India reported 36,370 new cases, the lowest since 36,810 on July 20, compared with a world-record 97,894, for second-place behind the U.S. with 7,946,429. Also, India recorded 488 deaths, behind a national-record 1,299, to rise to 119,502 and in third place.
Mexico announced 247 more deaths late Tuesday compared with a high of 1,092 on June 4 for a total of 89,171 in fourth place.
Coronavirus is surging at record cases levels and deaths that are the highest since the spring. The continent reported 2,757 deaths and 223,192 cases, nearly half the world total.
Four European nations are in the top 10. The United Kingdom reported 367 deaths, the most since 425 on May 27, with the daily high 1,172 for 45,365 in fifth place, as well as 22,886 cases five days after a record 26,688. No. 6 Italy, which at one time was the world's epicenter and reached 919 in one day, reported 221 deaths, the most since 243 on May 15, and a record 21,994 cases. France announced 523 deaths, the most since 543 on April 22, to move past Spain by 243 in seventh, as well as 33,417 cases, two days after a record 52,010. No. 7 Spain reported 267 deaths and 18,418 cases, five days after a record 20,986.
No. 9 Peru announced 60 deaths and No. 10 Iran a record 346.
Russia is in fourth place in the world in cases with 1,547,774, including 16,550 one day after a record 17,347. The nation gained a record 320 deaths in 13th.
No. 21 Canada reported 28 deaths for a total of 10,001 and 2,674 cases, one day after a record 4,109. Between May 26 and Aug. 30 cases were never more than 1,000.
Sweden, which has been doing "herd immunity" with no lockdown, reported 7 deaths and is at 5,918. Neighboring Norway reported 1 death ro rise to 280, as well as 141 more cases.
No. 33 China, the original epicenter of the world, hasn’t reported a death since April 26, added 42 cases Wednesday.