Coronavirus cases in Florida dropped sharply again this week, along with the case positivity rate, as the omicron wave continued its steep decline.
The drop-off took much of Florida out of the high-risk category for COVID-19, according to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The weekly report from the Florida Department of Health shows that 14,148 people tested positive for the coronavirus in the week ending Thursday, bringing the state's overall total to 5,814,517.
That's down from 25,640 a week earlier, and the lowest weekly number since Dec. 10-16, 2021.
In the greater Tampa Bay region, 3,294 more people tested positive, down from 7,320 a week earlier.
The positivity rate for new cases also dropped to 3.3%, down from 5.6% a week earlier, and compared to a peak of 31.2% Dec. 31-Jan. 6.
The one figure where there was an increase was deaths. The state reported 70,997 Floridians have died from COVID-19, with 1,207 reported for the week, up from 888 a week earlier. The state crossed the 70,000 death mark on Monday.
As of Friday, 2,418 people were hospitalized statewide with the coronavirus, down 28% from a week earlier.
The vaccination rates for people ages five and up remained virtually unchanged from the week before at 74% statewide.
The following is a summary from Feb. 25- Mar 3:
Cases: 5,814,517 positive cases, an increase of 14,148 from the previous week.
Vaccinations: 15,418,039 Florida residents have been vaccinated, a weekly increase of 10,460. In all, 74% of Florida’s population over the age of five has received at least one dose of vaccine, the same rate as a week ago.
Positivity Rate: The positivity rate for new cases statewide was 3.3%, down from 5.6% the previous week.
Deaths: A total of 70,997 Florida residents have died from a primary diagnosis of COVID-19, an increase of 1,207 from the previous week.
(NOTE: Cases and deaths in the report may have happened days or weeks earlier, according to state officials. The state is also now only counting deaths involving Florida residents.)
County Breakdown: (Feb. 25-Mar 3)
County | Cases (Increase) | Positivity (prv.) | # Vaccinations | % Vaccinated (prv.) * | |
Hillsborough | 371,919 (851) | 4,0% (9.7%) | 980,037 | 69% (69%) | |
Pinellas | 206,891 (714) | 3.9% (7.1%) | 656,053 | 69% (69%) | |
Polk | 198,831 (460) | 3.7% (7.1%) | 450,196 | 66% (66%) | |
Sarasota | 88,637 (422) | 4.9% (7.3%) | 329,307 | 77% (77%) | |
Manatee | 94,633 (284) | 4.3% (7.1%) | 268,874 | 69% (69%) | |
Pasco | 121,183 (412) | 4.9% (7.3%) | 352,871 | 68% (68%) | |
Hernando | 41,720 (151) | 5.8% (7.6%) | 114,248 | 61% (61%) |
* - Vaccination rate now includes children ages 5-11 years old.
ABOUT THE DATA: As of June 4, 2021, the Florida Department of Health no longer offers daily updates on coronavirus data, and instead issues a county-by-county and statewide weekly breakdown on about COVID-19 cases, deaths, and other information. Cases and deaths in the report may have happened days or weeks earlier, according to state officials. The state is also now only counting deaths involving Florida residents.
