Friday’s report from the Florida Department of Health recorded the deaths of 122 people due to complications from COVID-19, bringing the statewide death toll to 14,083.
The deaths were recorded by the state since Thursday’s report, but they may have occurred days or weeks earlier.
Also since Thursday’s report, 2,847 more people tested positive for the coronavirus, bringing the statewide total to 695,887.
Friday’s report shows 512 new positive tests and 24 of the deaths were in the greater Tampa Bay region.
Of 72,079 tests returned statewide Thursday, 4.29 percent of those tested for the first time were positive. It was the second consecutive day and twelfth out of fourteen where the positivity rate fell below five percent.
Gov. Ron DeSantis cited the declining positivity rate when he announced Florida was immediately moving to Phase 3 -- the final reopening stage for the state -- meaning bars, restaurants, gyms, theme parks and salons can operate at full capacity.
For the seven days ending Friday, the state added 18,227 new cases and recorded the deaths of 696 people. Almost 410,000 tests were returned.
In the greater Tampa Bay region, 3,456 new cases and 103 deaths were recorded.
ABOUT THE DATA: The Florida Department of Health produces a daily update around 11 a.m. with information about COVID-19 cases and deaths that were reported over the previous 24 hours. Cases and deaths in the report may have happened days or weeks earlier, according to state officials. The state separately tracks cases and deaths that occurred on specific days on its dashboard and those totals are frequently updated.
Greater Tampa Bay region positive tests as of Friday, September 25:
- Hillsborough: 41,506
- Pinellas: 21,845
- Polk: 19,647
- Manatee: 11,393
- Pasco: 9,101
- Sarasota: 8,065
- Hernando: 3,107
Florida COVID-19 daily total of positive tests/deaths for the last two weeks:
- Sept. 25: 2,847/122
- Sept. 24: 2,541/179
- Sept. 23: 2,590/203
- Sept. 22: 2,470/99
- Sept. 21: 1,685/21
- Sept. 20: 2,521/9
- Sept. 19: 3,573/63
- Sept. 18: 3,204/140
- Sept. 17: 3,255/147
- Sept. 16: 2,355/154
- Sept. 15: 3,116/146
- Sept. 14: 1,736/36
- Sept. 13: 2,423/8
- Sept. 12: 3,190/98
