Florida Reports 14K New Cases, New Record For Deaths

The Miami Herald reports:

Florida’s Department of Health on Thursday confirmed 13,965 new cases of COVID-19, the second highest single-day total recorded in the state since the pandemic began in March. The state now has a total of 315,775 confirmed cases.

There were also 156 new Florida resident deaths announced, bringing the statewide resident death toll to 4,677.

The 156 deaths are the most the health department has announced within a 24-hour period, although it does not necessarily mean that all of the people died in the past 24 hours. Previously, the highest single-day toll was reported on Tuesday with 132 deaths.

Stephen Colbert on Florida Governor Ron DeSantis calling his state’s 15,300 new COVID-19 cases on Sunday “a blip”:

“If you think that’s just a blip, governor, you’ve got blip for brains.” pic.twitter.com/snlU8P4yGF

— Bob Geiger (@GeigerNews) July 15, 2020

It only took Florida becoming a global hotspot for COVID for you to finally say this ?

Think how many less people would have Covid if you and your Republicans cronies had spines and said this before it had to get this bad.

— David Hogg (text vote to 954-954) (@davidhogg111) July 16, 2020

“Nearly one-third of children tested for COVID in Florida are positive. Palm Beach County’s health director warns of risk of long-term damage” https://t.co/1dGAVc0zUg

— Garance Franke-Ruta (@thegarance) July 16, 2020

? “Florida had tested 54,022 Florida residents under the age of 18, according to the state’s COVID-19 pediatric report on July 10.

Of those tests, 16,797, or just over 31 percent, have come back positive.” https://t.co/mVFI6hH3XD

— Katie Phang (@KatiePhang) July 16, 2020