Miami, Florida – Florida added 1,038 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, going from 33,690 to 34,728, while deaths increased by 28, to reach 1,314, according to the latest data from the state Department of Health.
The number of new cases is more than double than in the previous 24 hours, when there were 497 more.
Statewide hospitalizations totaled 5,767 (5,589 on Thursday) and tests 404,467 (384,153), of which 8.6% were positive, up from 8.8% on Thursday.
RELATED
Florida, which had its first confirmed case on March 1, will enter the first phase of the three established for the “reopening” on Monday.
Three counties in the southeastern state, where the main focus is, will not yet join the return to normal process, which begins after a month in which Florida has been under a confinement order that included the closure of all businesses considered non-essential.
Of the 34,728 cases confirmed since March 1, more than 20,000 correspond to those three counties.
In Miami-Dade, where 12,389 (12,063 on Thursday) have been confirmed, in Broward 5,144 (4,953) and in Palm Beach 3,041 (2,963).
As for the deaths of the 1,286 registered to date, 723 have occurred in those three counties.
The goal of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is to return to normal in a “smart, safe and step-by-step way” and keeping the protection of the most vulnerable, elderly and chronically ill people a priority.
In Phase One, most of the measures for restricting economic activity will be relaxed, but the mandatory physical distance of six feet (1.82 meters) between people and the prohibition on meeting more than ten people will be maintained.
Except for cinemas, bars, gyms, hair salons, and other personal service establishments, all businesses will be able to open their doors in Florida starting May 4, although some will have to operate with certain restrictions.
Hospitals and medical centers will also be allowed to return to normal procedures and operations, something that was banned in order to have full capacity to deal with the pandemic, and the ability to perform COVID-19 tests will multiply throughout the state, according Santis.
The Republican governor declined to give dates on when to move to the second phase or when the inclusion of the three southeastern counties will take place.
