Florida COVID cases climb by 10K, with nearly 100 new deaths

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida posted nearly 10,400 new COVID-19 infections and the state’s death toll from the pandemic ticked upward by nearly 100 Floridians, the state Health Department reported Sunday.

Since the outbreak began, the state has recorded more than 1.3 million of the state’s 21 million residents infected with the disease. In all, 21,987 have died.

As of Sunday morning, 6,956 people were hospitalized because of COVID-19.

The new numbers come after a record surge in new cases. On New Year’s Eve, the state reported the highest daily jump in COVID-19 cases ever detected in Florida, with 17,192 new cases.

On Saturday, health officials reported a two-day total 30,767 new cases of the coronavirus and 217 new deaths.