Florida averaging 21,000+ new COVID-19 cases per day

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Florida has reached its highest 7-day moving average of new COVID-19 cases since the start of the pandemic, according to the latest data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The CDC’s metrics show the state reported a record 24,753 new cases Tuesday (the most recent day where data was available), bringing its 7-day average to 21,156.

Five of the past seven days included 20,000+ new cases in Florida.

• Aug. 10: 24,753
• Aug. 9: 15,322
• Aug. 8: 19,584
• Aug. 7: 21,487
• Aug. 6: 23,958
• Aug. 5: 22,776
• Aug. 4: 20,216

The United States has a 7-day moving average of 113,357 new cases, meaning Florida is accounting for just under 19% of the new cases nationally.

“In the past week, Florida has had more COVID cases than all 30 states with the lowest case rates combined,” White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator Jeff Zients said Thursday. “And Florida and Texas alone have accounted for nearly 40% of new hospitalizations across the country.”

Zients added that 200 ventilators have been sent to hospitals in the state.

Last week, Florida was averaging over 19,000 new cases per day. Back as recently as June, the state was reporting fewer than that many cases for entire weeks.

Florida has moved to only publishing coronavirus reports on a weekly basis after keeping a daily dashboard for months. The state health department’s next full weekly report — which includes positivity rates and vaccination percentages — is expected to be posted Friday.

In the meantime, the CDC tracks cases reported to them from each U.S. state and territory. For more of that data, click here.

Florida’s COVID-19 hospitalizations also reached a record 15,358 on Thursday, according to the Florida Hospital Association.