Florida reports record-breaking 15,299 coronavirus cases in one day

Credit: AP

Florida has shattered the US record for the largest single-day increase in positive coronavirus cases in any state since the beginning of the pandemic.

It added more than 15,000 cases to its total as the daily average death toll also continued to rise.

According to state Department of Health statistics, 15,299 people tested positive for a total of 269,811 cases, and 45 deaths were recorded.

California had the previous record of daily positive cases at 11,694, set on Wednesday. New York had 11,571 on April 15.

The numbers come at the end of a record-breaking week as Florida reported 514 fatalities – an average of 73 per day.

Three weeks ago, the state was averaging 30 deaths per day.

Since the pandemic began in March, 4,346 people have died in Florida of Covid-19, the state says.

Testing has doubled over the last month, going from about 25,000 tests per day to almost 50,000, but the percentage of people testing positive has risen even more dramatically.

A month ago, fewer than 5% of tests came up positive on a daily average. Over the past week, the daily average exceeded 19%.

University of Florida epidemiologist Dr Cindy Prins said about 143,000 tests were reported on Sunday.

"I still think we need to increase our testing a little bit more," she said, adding the state and local health departments should ramp up their contact tracing.

Dr Prins said she is still concerned about large crowds, gyms and some restaurants as being places of mass transmission.

Reports of illegal clubs and raves in South Florida is also a worry, she said.

"I really do think we could control this and it’s the human element that is so critical,” she said."

"It should be an effort of our country. We should be pulling together when we’re in a crisis and we’re definitely not doing it."

"I know people want to live their lives. There have been a lot of other times, people have made those sacrifices in order to benefit our society."

"It’s almost like a war effort. That’s what we need right now," she added.

Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez told CNN on Sunday his county’s hospitals will soon reach capacity but he said more beds can be added, including for intensive care.

"We still have capacity but it does cause me a lot of concern," he said.

Guests wear masks as required at the reopened Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World Credit: Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel/AP

Throughout May and into June, the state reopened much of its economy with some restrictions and the number of positive cases began rising.

It was not until the last week that the daily death total began rising, too.

Because of the increase in cases and the positivity rate, doctors have predicted a rise in deaths, saying the mortality rate usually increases two to four weeks later as some of those infected get sicker and eventually die.

Health experts are worried people are gathering in crowds and have expressed concern the Republican National Convention’s nomination party for President Donald Trump will be held in Jacksonville in August.

On Saturday, the Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom reopened at Walt Disney World in Orlando, concerning health experts who urge people not to gather in groups.

Guests at the park said people were wearing masks and social distancing, and videos showed near-empty parks.

Florida governor Ron DeSantis said even with the rising rates, he still wants schools to reopen as scheduled next month.

"We know there are huge, huge costs for not providing the availability of in-person schooling," he said.

"The risk of corona, fortunately, for students is incredibly low."

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