According to the latest Florida report, 22.75% of people tested were positive for COVID

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The number of confirmed cases of coronavirus in Florida grew by more than 12,000 cases on Tuesday amid rates of positivity not seen since July, the peak of the Florida pandemic. The statewide positivity rate of 22.75% (almost double that in some counties) was driven by a small number of people tested due to the closure and / or limited schedule of test sites on Christmas and holiday weekend.

Although the 12,075 cases reported by the Florida Department of Health did not record a record one-day increase in Florida, there were 1,024 new cases in Duval County reported on Tuesday, by far the maximum in a single day since start the pandemic.

Since March 1, there have been 1,292,252 residents and people who have visited the state diagnosed with COVID-19. There have been 59,515 positive tests in Jacksonville in the last ten months.

An additional 105 deaths were reported in Florida on Tuesday, bringing the state total to 21,718. Two of these were residents of Jacksonville and one in Clay County.

There were 6,280 people admitted to the state on Tuesday afternoon with a primary diagnosis of COVID-19 – 479 more hospitalizations of COVID-19 than the day before.

On Monday, only 40,372 test results were obtained, compared to an average of more than 100,000 each day last week, prompting the DOH to add this liability notice on Tuesday: “As we continue to experience office closures and vacations until January 4, 2021, it is possible that the data may continue to impact over the next few days. “

According to the state immunization board: 17,117 first doses were administered on Tuesday, bringing the total in the state to 146,160. Vaccines were given to the first seniors who were not in long-term care centers on Tuesday.

Registration for over-65s opened Tuesday in Clay County and will open Wednesday at 8 a.m. in Duval County. The county of St. Johns said his community vaccination plan will be announced soon. The first vaccines in Northeast Florida will be administered Monday.