UPDATED: This Map Shows Where and Who Coronavirus Has Hit the Hardest This Week in Florida

Florida coronavirus map

Graphic via Desiree Tapia for The Americano

By Giselle Balido

August 21, 2020

The Sunshine State has now surpassed more than 10,000 COVID-19 fatalities. 

FLORIDA- On Friday the Florida Department of Health (DOH) reported 4,684 new cases of the novel coronavirus, raising the statewide total to 593,286. There were 119 new deaths announced, raising the toll of fatalities to 10,168 Florida residents.

See the breakdown of cases by county HERE.

According to the latest update from the Florida Department of Health, the breakdown of cases by county is as follows:

Skewed Results?

On Friday, the state also reported the second consecutive day of a coronavirus positivity rate under 10%. 

However, according to Olivier Lacan, a volunteer for the COVID Tracking Project, Florida’s lack of transparency fuels distrust. That is because the method used to calculate the “positivity rate”, which measures the pandemic’s progression, focuses more on negative tests, stacking the results in that direction. For example, a person who tests positive is counted only once, but negative tests can be counted repeatedly if the same person got more than one test. 

RELATED: More than 40,000 Kids in Florida Have Tested Positive for COVID-19

In addition, the Orlando Sentinel reports that the state now mixes two different types of tests, including one that produces more false negative results.

Cases by Exposure Source

The DOH provided the number of positive cases by exposure source:

  • Traveled: 4,446
  • Had contact with confirmed case: 188,936
  • Traveled and had contact with confirmed case: 4,643
  • Under investigation: 388,998

Additionally, the DOH’s pediatric report, verified as of Friday August 21, shows 47,489 Florida children have tested positive for COVID-19 across the state. Eight deaths have been reported. 

The numbers of new cases and fatalities across the state may be undercounted, as the DOH may take up to two weeks to report the number of positive results from private labs. Similarly, in the past the number of fatalities issued by the Medical Examiner’s Office has consistently been 10% higher than reported.

New Testing Site in Wynwood 

A new site that opened Wednesday in Wynwood will provide free COVID tests through Sept. 15. 

Testing hours are 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m. and 3 p.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Friday, and 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturdays.

It also has paid research opportunities ranging up to $3,250 for those who become a test case for coronavirus researchers. 

The research will be conducted by Xera Med Research, the same company that is providing the free COVID molecular/PCR tests at its site. 

The site is located behind the Mana Convention Center at 2222 NW Fifth Ave. in Wynwood. Its drive-thru car entrance is off Northwest 23rd Street, and the pedestrian walk-up entrance is off Northwest Fifth Avenue. 

https://theamericanonews.com/newsletter/

To Sign Up

Visit CovidTestWynwood.com to sign up for a free appointment before Sept. 15. You can also apply for one of the studies there. Or you can call 305-503-9006 to book an appointment. You  will be asked a series of questions. However, organizers say the website is the fastest way to get an appointment.

Author

CATEGORIES: Coronavirus | Florida | Health | Local | Safety

Politics

Local News

Related Stories