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News about coronavirus in Florida and around the world is constantly emerging. It's hard to stay on top of it all but Health News Florida and WUSF can help. Our responsibility at WUSF News is to keep you informed, and to help discern what’s important for your family as you make what could be life-saving decisions.

Florida Reports 74 COVID-19 Deaths, And 2,787 New Cases

Florida Department of Health COVID-19 dashboard
Florida Department Of Health
Saturday's report from the Florida Department of Health shows 2,787 people tested positive for the coronavirus in the last 24 hours.

There were 19 deaths in the greater Tampa Bay region, and the positivity rate statewide was 4.79%.

Saturday's report from the Florida Department of Health shows 2,787 people tested positive for the coronavirus in the last 24 hours, bringing the statewide total number of cases to 714,591.

The state received more than 63,800 test results Friday and 4.79% of new tests were positive.

There were 592 new positive cases in the greater Tampa Bay region.

Saturday's report also recorded the deaths of 74 people due to complications from COVID-19 since Friday's report, bringing the statewide death toll to 14,628.

In the greater Tampa Bay region, 19 deaths were noted since Friday's report, including eight deaths in Hillsborough County.

The deaths were recorded by the state since Friday’s report, but they may have occurred days or weeks earlier.

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 Saturday, Oct. 3:

  • Hillsborough: 42,765
  • Pinellas: 22,441
  • Polk: 20,354
  • Manatee: 11,732
  • Pasco: 9,444
  • Sarasota: 8,329
  • Hernando: 3,233

Florida COVID-19 daily total of positive tests/deaths for the last two weeks:

  • Oct. 3: 2,787/74
  • Oct. 2: 2,660/111
  • Oct. 1: 2,628/131
  • Sept. 30: 1,948/175
  • Sept. 29: 3,266/106
  • Sept. 28: 738/5
  • Sept. 27: 1,882/12
  • Sept. 26: 2,795/107
  • 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
NOTE: The Florida Department of Health discontinued daily coronvirus updates on June 4, 2021.

I wasn't always a morning person. After spending years as a nighttime sports copy editor and page designer, I made the move to digital editing in 2000. Turns out, it was one of the best moves I've ever made.
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