© 2024 All Rights reserved WUSF
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
News about coronavirus in Florida and around the world is constantly emerging. It's hard to stay on top of it all but Health News Florida and WUSF can help. Our responsibility at WUSF News is to keep you informed, and to help discern what’s important for your family as you make what could be life-saving decisions.

Florida COVID-19 Cases Quickly Approach 8,000

Florida Department of Health COVID-19 dashboard
Florida Department of Health
With more than 1,000 people testing positive for COVID-19, Florida is approaching 8,000 cases.

On a day when Gov. Ron DeSantis issued a 30-day stay-at-home order for the state, Florida’s COVID-19 infections topped 7,000 by quite a bit.

Statewide, 7,773 people have tested positive for the virus, and 101 people have died. The death toll marked its largest daily increase, at 16.

The Department of Health’s morning report seemed to offer hope that social distancing was having a positive effect. As of noon, 6,955 cases of coronavirus had been verified in the state; an increase of 214 since 6 p.m. Tuesday. It was the lowest overnight increase since March 26th.

Hillsborough had reported just four new cases, and Pinellas, Polk and Pasco each reported three.

However, by 6 p.m., Hillsborough had recorded 57 new cases and Pinellas logged 66; both one-day highs.  All other counties in the Tampa Bay area reported significant increases as well.

Another person in Manatee County died from COVID-19, a 77-year-old man with no travel history or known contact with another infected person. His death brings Manatee’s total to three.

Tampa Bay area positive tests:  

  • Hillsborough: 362 (351 local, 11 non-resident)
  • Pinellas: 233 (212 local, 21 non-resident)
  • Sarasota 99 (89 local, 10 non-Sarasota residents)
  • Polk 73 (73 local)
  • Manatee 70 (70 local)
  • Pasco 51 (49 local, 2 non-Pasco residents)
  • Hernando 28 (27 local, 1 non-Hernando resident)

WUSF 89.7 depends on donors for the funding it takes to provide you the most trusted source of news and information here in town, across our state, and around the world. Support WUSF now by giving monthly, or make a one-time donation online at WUSF.org/give

After more than 40 years learning and helping others understand more about so many aspects of our world and living in it, I still love making connections between national news stories and our community. It's exciting when I can find a thread between a national program or greater premise and what is happening at the local or personal level. This has been true whether I’ve spun the novelty tunes of Raymond Scott or Wilmoth Houdini from a tiny outpost in a Vermont field, or shared the voices of incarcerated women about what it’s like to be behind bars on Mother’s Day with the entire state of New Hampshire.
You Count on Us, We Count on You: Donate to WUSF to support free, accessible journalism for yourself and the community.