MANATEE

Florida tops 500,000 COVID-19 cases on Wednesday

Staff Report
Sarasota Herald-Tribune
Sarasota Herald-Tribune

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The Florida Department of Health announced 5,409 new cases of COVID-19 in the state on Wednesday, pushing the state’s total infections to 502,739 since the pandemic began.

Many state-run testing sites on the east coast of Florida were closed for several days in response to Tropical Storm Isaias.

225 deaths were reported, the fourth day of more than 200 deaths reported over the past week, bringing the death toll to 7,627 for Florida residents since the pandemic began.

Manatee County had one new deaths reported since Tuesday, for a total of 188. Sarasota County also reported one new death, raising the toll to 129.

Sarasota County’s COVID-19 case numbers rose by 86 cases since Tuesday, for a total of 5,940. Manatee County had 51 new cases, for a total of 8,938.

See our complete coverage of the coronavirus outbreak

According to a state database, in Sarasota County 92 people are currently hospitalized with a primary diagnosis of COVID-19. In Manatee County, 84 are hospitalized. Statewide, 7,620 are hospitalized.

The Venice City Council on Monday afternoon approved the first reading of an ordinance requiring people to wear a face mask when social distancing cannot be observed. But it did so only after an emergency ordinance that would have taken effect immediately failed for lack of votes.