FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. _ The prevalence of the novel coronavirus in Florida remained low Saturday amid concerns from some public health experts that Labor Day weekend events could lead to a new wave of COVID-19 infections.
On the latest pandemic data report from the state, the daily positivity rate for new infections only was 5.99%. It's been hovering around 5% for the past two weeks _ at the level where public health experts say the virus is under control.
What a change compared to July, when positivity was around 15% across the state, and even topped 20% in hard-hit Miami-Dade County.
Based on the favorable numbers, Palm Beach County is moving to Phase 2 of its reopening on Tuesday.
Florida's coronavirus numbers for Saturday also remained on a general downward trend, with the reported deaths of another 61 residents and 3,656 newly infected people with COVID-19.
The Department of Health on Friday reported another 103 deaths and 3,198 new cases.
Data reports released each day reflect COVID-19 fatalities in recent weeks, but just confirmed in the past 24 hours. Positive test results also take days to appear.
With Saturday's tallies, the state has logged a total of 643,867 COVID-19 cases and 11,963 deaths linked to the disease since the pandemic began.
