Over the weekend, Florida surpasses 600,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 as the state also extended its streak to twelve straight days with a positivity rate under 10%.
Although less of the Florida residents who are getting tested for the coronavirus are receiving positive test results, the Florida Department of Health reported Monday there are 2,258 new cases and 72 more deaths. The state’s day-to-day positivity rate of new cases decreased from 5.52% on Sunday to 5.15% on Monday.
Miami-Dade and Broward counties also reported a positivity rate of 4%, the lowest reported rate since June.
The encouraging trends in the numbers — both statewide and locally — have led to talk that South Florida may be able to reopen further and relax some restrictions.
Governor Ron DeSantis last week stated that he is currently working with local leaders in the South Florida counties to consider Phase 2 openings.
“We’re working with [the local leaders]. We’ve worked collaboratively with a bottom-up approach with that part of Florida from the beginning,” DeSantis said Wednesday. “I’m in conversations with them about what they feel about the next step.”
In a statement, a spokesperson for Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez said the mayor “agrees with Gov. DeSantis’ statements yesterday that as positivity rates and hospitalization numbers are declining the next step is to ‘work collaboratively’ with the South Florida counties to consider Phase 2 openings.”
