Positive rate spikes to 22.7% in Florida

Florida – Florida health officials reported 12,075 new coronavirus cases on Tuesday and 101 more deaths.

The state has now confirmed 1,292,252 COVID-19 cases since the pandemic began and 21,409 resident deaths, according to the health department.

Florida has also reported that at least 309 non-resident deaths have occurred here, and there have been at least 62,142 hospitalizations attributed to the novel coronavirus in the state since the start of the outbreak.

The statewide positivity rate more than doubled from 11.07% on Monday to 22.75% Tuesday.

Deaths confirmed since yesterday include nine in Miami-Dade County, two in Broward County and seven in Palm Beach County.

There is a concern of a spike in cases that could be reflected in a rise of numbers from holiday travel. Despite warnings from health officials, the Transportation Security Administration reported that 1,191,123 people were screened Wednesday, Dec. 23, the highest single-day total since the pandemic’s effects began in the United States. The biggest holiday travel day still awaits on Jan. 2.

By comparison, 1,937,235 people were screened on Dec. 23 last year.