Federal health officials say Florida reported 21,683 new cases of COVID-19 Friday, the state’s highest one-day total since the start of the pandemic.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention figures released on Saturday topped the previous high of 19,334 on January 7, before vaccines were widely available.
The CDC also recorded 108 deaths Friday.
The state has become the new national epicenter for the virus, accounting for around a fifth of all new cases in the U.S.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has resisted mandatory mask mandates and vaccine requirements, and along with the Florida Legislature, has limited local officials’ ability to impose measures meant to stop the spread of COVID-19.
It also shows how quickly the number of cases is rising in the Sunshine State. It was the fourth straight day the number of new cases topped 16,000 and the tenth straight day over 12,000.
The average over the last seven days is 15,817 cases.
