Second Miami-Dade death from COVID-19 reported. State surpasses 3,000 coronavirus cases.
Florida now has more than 3,000 COVID-19 cases, according to the state Department of Health’s Friday evening report. The state is now at 3,198 positive cases, which is an increase of 298 cases from Friday morning. Health officials reported 12 more deaths, bringing the death toll to 46.
Miami-Dade County had a second death reported in the evening update. Health officials say the second death was a 79-year-old man. It is unknown if he had contact with a confirmed COVID-19 patient or if he had traveled.
Earlier in the day, the state reported Miami-Dade’s first coronavirus-related death. Israel Carrera, a 40-year-old who lived near North Miami City Hall, attended Winter Party Festival in Miami Beach in early March and later fell ill. He died on Thursday.
Broward County had an additional five deaths reported, according to the health department’s dashboard. That county’s death toll is now at 10.
Of the 10 deaths, six are from residents at Atria Willow Wood, an assisted living facility in Fort Lauderdale. The seventh is Dr. Alex Hsu, a 67-year-old Margate internist who died on Wednesday and is the first South Florida medical professional to die from COVID-19.
Of the total cases, 3,054 are Florida residents and 144 are not. Health officials say 503 people are hospitalized.
COVID-19 CASES IN SOUTH FLORIDA
A little less than half of the newly confirmed cases were in South Florida, the epicenter of COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus.
The Florida Department of Health added 106 cases in Miami-Dade County, bringing the total to 869.
In Broward County, 17 cases were added, bringing the total to 631.
Palm Beach County had 47 more cases confirmed, bringing the total up to 241.
Three more cases were confirmed in Monroe County, bringing the total number in the Florida Keys to 19.
The rise of confirmed cases falls in line with testing availability in the state, particularly in Miami-Dade and Broward counties, as more drive-thru testing sites open.
ALFs and state impact
South Florida nursing homes, with the most vulnerable residents, continue to feel the impact.
An employee of the Lincoln Manor assisted living facility tested positive for COVID-19 and two residents have been removed from the home after exhibiting symptoms consistent with the coronavirus, the Miami Herald reported Thursday. The home’s owner said both residents have since tested negative.
The Atria Willow Wood ALF in Fort Lauderdale has seen the deaths of six residents due to COVID-19, and several other residents or staff members either have tested positive or are awaiting test results.
In addition, Dr. Alex Hsu, a 67-year-old Margate internist died on Wednesday and is the first South Florida medical professional to die from COVID-19.
Five-time Tony Award-winning playwright Terrence McNally was one of the casualties of COVID-19, too, dying on Tuesday at Sarasota Memorial Hospital. He is known for his Broadway musicals “Ragtime” and “Kiss of the Spider Woman.”
South Florida resident breakdown on ages, hospitalizations, deaths
Here’s a South Florida breakdown based on Florida’s Department of Health COVID-19 Data and Surveillance Dashboard:
Miami-Dade County: 869
▪ 849 residents, 19 non-residents and one resident who is not in Florida
▪ Age Range: 3 to 99, average age is 47
▪ Two death and 89 hospitalizations
Broward County: 631
▪ 612 residents and 19 non-residents
▪ Age range: 0 to 97, average age is 48
▪ 10 deaths and 88 hospitalizations
Palm Beach County: 241
▪ 230 residents, nine non-residents and two residents who are not in Florida
▪ Age Range: 6 to 92, average age is 49
▪ Five deaths and 34 hospitalizations
Monroe County: 19
▪ 17 residents and two non-residents
▪ Age range is 19 to 80, average age is 52
▪ Zero deaths and four hospitalizations
This breaking news article will be updated once more information becomes available.
This story was originally published March 27, 2020 at 1:01 PM.
