This update is designed to put everything into perspective with straight-forward facts. This weekend brought a proliferation of new documented cases and the FDA approval of a new test that can produce results in as few as 45 minutes. The new test will be shipping nationwide on Friday. President Trump also deployed the National Guard to California, New York and Washington state to deal with the outbreaks in those states.
As of today, we have 1,007 instate cases, 13 deaths and 1 recovered in Florida. In the United States, we have 35,060 cases, 457 deaths, and 178 recovered. Around the world, there are 341,329 cases, 14,746 deaths, and 99,040 recovered.
We experienced 95,000 additional cases worldwide over the weekend with more than 20,000 new cases in the US. The United States is now 3rd in the world in total cases, behind China and Italy. The most disconcerting aspect of the virus at this point remains the death/recovery rate based on closed cases. We have more than double the deaths to recoveries in the US thus far and worldwide the death rate has spiked to 13%. This after having reached a low of 6% just over two weeks ago. We’ve seen the death rate rise as the reach of the virus grows. The common pattern with the virus spreading is an increase in death rates with vulnerable early on followed by improving rates over time as people begin to recover. In the early stages of the breakout in the US, we’re continuing to see more people die for the virus than fully recover. I’m not at all trying to be an alarmist. Those are just the facts.
We also saw cases in Florida more than double, topping 1,000 by the end of the weekend. New cases were reported across the state but for the first time, Spring Breakers returning to college tested positive at the University of Florida, South Florida, and Tampa. Florida is now 7th in the country in total cases. We also had four additional deaths attributed to COVID-19 over the weekend. In Governor DeSantis' most recent update, he indicated he wasn’t mandating an “at home” order for Floridians as a few states, including California and New York have done, but to take the existing advisories and closings seriously.
The range in age for positive tests in our state ranges from 6 to 89 and 51% of all of Florida’s cases currently are in the tri-county area with Miami-Dade once again having passed Broward for the most cases.
- Broward: 217
- Miami-Dade: 227
- Palm Beach: 72
In the early going of testing, we’re seeing a really high rate of positive tests in Florida though the rate dropped significantly over the weekend. To date, 9% of all test results for COVID-19 have come back positive. That’s down from 20% percent last week, which is improved news. Still, it remains much higher than the guidance provided by the Coronavirus Task Force. Nationally and internationally which have ranged from 1%-4%. There are 933 outstanding tests awaiting results, expect these numbers to continue to increase today.
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