Coronavirus update – July 15th
Bottom Line: This daily update is designed to put everything in perspective with straight-forward facts. No hyperbole, no misinformation, no nonsense. Tuesday brought about the third highest new daily cases around the world, second highest in the United States and the deadliest to date in Florida.
Here’s where we stand as of now...
Worldwide:
- 13,465,440 – 581,405 deaths – 7,855,841 recovered
Nationally:
- 3,545,257 cases – 139,145 deaths – 1,600,321 recovered
Florida:
- 291,629 cases – 4,409 deaths - 33,760 recovered
In Florida, Tuesday was a mixed bag. With 9,194 new cases, we had the fewest in a day since last Thursday – welcomed news coming off the two worst days. On the other hand, Florida had its deadliest day of the pandemic with 132 deaths attributed to the virus. Florida is now averaging over 11 thousand new cases and 81 daily deaths, both new highs. Healthcare experts indicated Florida’s surge in cases would result in an increase in deaths – that's what we’re now experiencing. South Florida remains the epicenter of the virus with Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach Counties having the most cases in that order. There are 92 zip codes in South Florida which are hotspots including 19 in Palm Beach County, 25 in Broward and 48 in Miami-Dade. Hospitalization rates remain at their highest levels of the pandemic with 77% utilization statewide and 80% in the TriCounty.
The overall positive test rate continues to rise in Florida. After reaching a low of 5.2% in early June, the rate since testing began has risen to 10.8% - including testing at greater than 10% positive, the target rate, each day since June 22nd. The average age of someone diagnosed with the virus remains 39. We’re seeing the spike in cases coming from both an increase in testing and predominantly from increased community spread. The reinforces the importance of using proper safety measures like wearing masks in public and socially distancing.
Florida is 3rd in total cases, while the state is now 8th in deaths, having passed Connecticut yesterday. Florida is the third most populous state. Since the onset of the pandemic we've fared in-line with overall cases, while better than average with outcomes. For closed cases around the world, the death rate has been 7% since the onset of the pandemic. In the United States it stands at 8% currently. With over 139,000 deaths attributed to COVID-19, it is the deadliest virus in the United States since the 1918 pandemic which killed over 675,000 Americans.