On Thursday, Florida surpassed 10,000 COVID-19 resident deaths even as the positivity rate in the state continues to decline.
According to the date published by the state health department, Florida saw 4,555 new coronavirus cases with 117 more residents’ deaths. Florida is now up to 588,602 confirmed cases and 10,049 deaths. At least 137 non-residents have also died from COVID-19 in Florida.
Florida is now the fifth state in the United States to surpass 10,000 COVID-19 deaths, behind New York (32,000), New Jersey (16,000), California (11,000) and Texas (10,500).
While the deaths are trending upwards, the state’s positivity rate has been heading in the right direction, with eight straight days under 10%.
On Wednesday, the daily positivity rate dropped to 6.78%, while the statewide average positivity over the past week has been 7.6%.
As schools in Broward County began classes earlier this week, the school board has reminded parents that the key criterion for the reopening of schools is for the daily positive rate to decline to 3 to 5 percent for a two-week period.
Schools in Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties will begin online classes next week.
