TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida reported mixed statistics on the coronavirus outbreak Saturday, as it again recorded more than 100 deaths but also saw its number of infections and hospitalizations continue their fall.
The state recorded 106 confirmed coronavirus deaths Saturday, the 17th time in August that the state has exceeded 100 recorded fatalities in a day.
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The state is recording an average of 156 coronavirus fatalities per day this month, which likely makes COVID-19 the state's No. 1 killer during that period. Cancer and heart disease each average about 125 deaths per day, according to the Florida Department of Health. The next three deadliest infectious diseases — flu/pneumonia, AIDS and viral hepatitis — average about 10 fatalities per day combined.
There are some positive signs, too. The state reported 4,300 new cases Saturday, continuing a downward trend that has seen the number drop from above 10,000 new cases per day a month ago.
Hospitalizations due to COVID-19 have also been declining. Late Saturday morning, 4,773 patients were being treated for the disease in Florida hospitals compared to Friday's 4,909 and Thursday’s 5,340. That number has fallen from a peak above 9,500 on July 23.
Overall, the state has recorded almost 600,000 confirmed cases since its first on March 1 and 10,410 deaths. Over the past week, the state's positivity rate on tests has been 10.8%.
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