JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Florida Department of Health on Friday reported 122 additional deaths connected to COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 14,083 since March.
Nine of the additional deaths reported Friday were in Northeast Florida: four in Duval County, two in Alachua County, two in Clay County and one in Union County. Those who died ranged in age from 48 and 81.
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Five of the newly reported deaths in Northeast Florida were first identified as COVID-19 patients by the state in July.
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On Friday, Florida added 2,847 new coronavirus cases, bringing the total number of statewide infections to 695,887 since the pandemic began.
Duval County added 120 new cases Friday for a total of 29,965.
For the last few days, the positivity rate from coronavirus testing in both Florida and Duval County has dipped below 5% — the level that health officials believe shows limited community spread. The state Department of Health said Friday that Florida’s positivity rate Thursday was 4.29%, while Duval County’s was 3.15%.
Saying the threat has eased, Gov. Ron DeSantis lifted all restrictions on restaurants and other businesses in Florida on Friday and banned local fines against anyone who refuses to wear a face mask.
“We’re not closing anything going forward,” DeSantis said, while insisting that the state is prepared if infections increase again.
The governor reluctantly closed bars and nightclubs initially on St. Patrick’s Day due to the outbreak, and days later, restricted restaurants to take-out dining. Amusement parks ground to a halt.
The closures battered the economy, leaving hundreds of thousands of Floridians unemployed. Since March 15, More than 2.5 million Floridians have sought unemployment benefits.
New infections have steadily declined since Florida’s caseload peaked in July. Hospitalizations declined Friday by 34 to 2,137 people.
The governor’s announcement Friday allows restaurants across the state to immediately reopen at full capacity — and prevents cities and counties from ordering restaurants to close or operate at less than half-capacity, unless they can justify a closure for economic or health reasons.
Common symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, cough, breathing trouble, sore throat, muscle pain, and loss of taste or smell. Most people develop only mild symptoms. But some people, usually those with other medical complications, develop more severe symptoms, including pneumonia.