FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. _ Florida reported 228 new deaths Friday, one day after the state crossed a grim marker of more than 9,000 people in the state who have died from COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic.
The additional deaths in the state put the total dead at 9,276.
The 228 deaths represent a jump from 148 on Thursday and a decline from the record 277 coronavirus deaths reported Wednesday. However, these daily totals do not reflect deaths in only the past 24 hours, but rather from recent weeks.
State health officials also reported 6,218 new infections Friday, putting the total infections in the state at 557,337 since the start of the pandemic.
Florida's new COVID-19 cases remain far below record highs, with Friday marking the 20th straight day the state has reported fewer than 10,000 cases in a day. The peak for one day was 15,300 cases reported on July 12.
However, Friday's case total of 6,218 represents only a small decrease from Thursday's 6,236 reported cases. Test results reported on a single day typically reflect tests taken over several days.
The daily COVID-19 testing positivity rate over the past two weeks has ranged from 11.9% to 8.08%, and was 8.08% based on Thursday's test results, records show. The state processed 79,550 results over the previous day. In total, more than 4.1 million people in the state have been tested for the virus.
Public health experts say the positivity rate shows the prevalence of the disease in the population. The World Health Organization had advised governments that before reopening, the rate should remain at 5% or lower for at least 14 days.
South Florida
In South Florida, which accounts for 29% of Florida's population:
Broward County: 657 new coronavirus cases were reported Wednesday, bringing the total to 65,337 The median age of those infected in the county is 38. A total of 914 people in Broward have died from the virus, 31 more than reported Thursday.
Miami-Dade County: 1,693 new cases, bringing the total to 142,667. A total of 1,999 people have died. That's 45 more than reported Thursday. The median age of those infected in the county is 42.
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