The state of Florida has reported record high spikes in the number of new COVID-19 cases for the last couple of weeks, and on Friday it added another 8,942 cases.
That number is now the highest single-day jump in new coronavirus cases in Florida since tracking began in March, eclipsing Wednesday's previous record of 5,508 new cases, according to data from the Department of Health.
Friday was the first time new cases topped 8,000, and was the third day in a row new case reports were more than 5,000.
Here's a breakdown of the new coronavirus cases reported by the state on each day for the past week:
- June 18: 3,207
- June 19: 3,822
- June 20: 4,049
- June 21: 3,494
- June 22: 2,926
- June 23: 3,286
- June 24: 5,508
- June 25: 5,004
- June 26: 8,942
While the number of new cases each day continues to rise, all eyes are also on the percent positivity rate and the number of people being tested each day. As of Friday morning, that rate for new cases is 13.05 percent, an increase from Thursday's 8.72 percent.
Thursday marked the most test results the state had done in one day with 71,433.
Percent positivity rate in Florida:
Daily new cases in Florida:
Gov. Ron DeSantis and other state and federal leaders continue to point to increased testing as the cause for the rise in new cases each day. As of Friday, more than 1.7 million people in the state have been tested.
On Thursday afternoon, DeSantis held a news conference at a Tampa high school and took questions from reporters regarding the state's response to COVID-19. The governor said the state needs to reduce the percent positivity rate, but also reiterated his comments about testing causing the jumps in cases.
"Some of what you're seeing...is mass testing regardless of symptoms," DeSantis said Thursday.
In response to a question about Texas pausing its reopening plan, DeSantis said "We are where we are. I didn't say we were going to the next phase."
Florida is currently in Phase Two of reopening, which began on June 5.
The new numbers in Florida came as the United States hit an all-time high of 40,000 new cases in a single day. The previous record was set in April with 36,400 in a day.
While the jump is believed to reflect, in part, expanded testing, many medical experts say there is substantial evidence the coronavirus is making a comeback. Experts point to rising deaths and hospitalizations in parts of the county, especially in the South and West, including Florida, Texas and Arizona.
- Gov. DeSantis signs bill expanding Family Empowerment Scholarship to more students
- Police chief: Auburndale officer shot, 1 man dead after traffic stop escalates
- Deadly hit-and-run crash shuts down part of I-75
- Vice President Pence to bring 'Faith in America' tour to Sarasota next week
- Florida governor not rolling back Disney reopening plans
- Historic Sarahan dust plume now over the Gulf of Mexico
- Florida's COVID-19 testing slowed as cases spiked
- 'We should not be asked to be unarmed, unbadged policemen," local business owner says of Hillsborough's new mask order
►Stay In the Know! Sign up now for the Brightside Blend Newsletter