coronavirus deaths

There were 490 new positive COVID-19 tests reported in the greater Tampa Bay region Sunday, as well as no deaths — the first day with no deaths recorded in the area since Sept. 28.

The state received 127,387 tests Friday and 3.68% of those being tested for the first time were positive. It's the second straight day the positivity rate was 4% or lower.

The 83,000 surpasses the previous record from mid-July by about 6,000. In addition, 943 people died from COVID-19 on Friday. Cases of the virus have been rising in the U.S. since mid-September.

For the second straight day, the rate of people testing positive for the first time for COVID-19 was above 6% — it's also the highest single-day positivity rate since August 25.

The number of coronavirus tests returned Sunday was under 40,000 — the positivity rate for tests was just below 5%.

The number of new cases reported Sunday in the greater Tampa Bay region was 538, much closer to totals seen in the past two weeks. A day earlier, the regional total was 957.

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Florida health officials reported 144 deaths since Wednesday's report and more than 3,350 new infections statewide.

State officials were unable to release data about the virus on Saturday after it received about 400,000 previously-reported COVID-19 test results from a private lab.

The statewide total for coronavirus cases now stands at 728,921, and the positivity rate for new cases was just over 4%.

Thursday's figures show 749 new positive tests in the greater Tampa Bay region, the highest single-day total since Sept. 1.

While the total number of Florida deaths due to complications from COVID-19 topped 15,000 people Wednesday, the positivity rate for those who were tested for the first time came in at 4.15 percent.