With more private lab tests, total coronavirus cases in FL rise to 216
Gov. Ron DeSantis announced 24 new cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, at a press conference Tuesday night in the state’s emergency operations center.
There are now 216 positive cases in the state. Of the 24 new cases announced, 22 were Florida residents.
More than 2,000 people have now been tested for COVID-19 in Florida. Expansion to private laboratories has changed the testing landscape. Florida recently partnered with private laboratories around the state to increase testing capacity.
Private labs account for about 30% of the tests being done, even though they just started testing last week. The partnerships will increase the number of tests conducted each day, state health officials said.
Four new cases were announced in Broward County, growing the number from 51 to 55 cases, which include seven non-Florida residents.
Tuesday’s numbers included a death at a Broward County assisted living facility, where two other people died the same day, stoking fears in the state’s COVID-19 hotspot.
The new cases announced Tuesday night included a 79-year-old woman who recently traveled to Colorado, a 19-year-old woman who recently traveled to Spain, a 46-year-old woman and a 19-year-old woman. All are Florida residents.
Cases out of Miami-Dade County rose to 44, including two non-Florida residents and one person diagnosed out of state.
The new cases announced Tuesday night included a 45-year-old man, a 33-year-old man, a 61-year-old woman, a 57-year-old man, a 35-year-old man who recently traveled to Egypt, a 19-year-old woman and a 57-year-old woman. All are Florida residents.
State health officials announced 32 new cases earlier Tuesday afternoon, bringing the daily total to 56 new cases.
This story was originally published March 17, 2020 at 7:15 PM.