Florida’s daily positivity rate for the coronavirus this weekend fell to a level not reported since mid-June.
Florida’s Department of Health reported that the positivity rate for the coronavirus fell to 4.89% on Saturday. The positivity rate was last at such low levels on June 13, according to the Sun-Sentinel, and health experts consider a positivity rate below 5% as meaning the virus is under control.
“Obviously this community has made some large and meaningful gains in suppressing the spread of this virus,” Palm Beach County Mayor Dave Kerner said last week.
In Kerner’s county, the Department of Health reported a 4.12% positivity rate on Saturday, down from 5.24% on Friday.
“Florida update: percent positive today is 4.89%. This means the ‘outbreak’ is officially over in FL with a fraction of NY & NJ’s death rate. Should be top story in country after months of FL fear porn. But most in media will completely ignore it,” journalist Clay Travis wrote on Twitter of the news.
Florida update: percent positive today is 4.89%. This means the “outbreak” is officially over in FL with a fraction of NY & NJ’s death rate. Should be top story in country after months of FL fear porn. But most in media will completely ignore it. https://t.co/mRwcCBKqoL
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) August 22, 2020
Gov. Ron DeSantis also tweeted of the falling rates on Friday.
“COVID positive hospital census down 233 patients over the past 24 hours. This is the lowest number of patients since July 3rd,” he wrote. “The two-week positivity average for staff of long-term care facilities has fallen to 1.3%.”
The two-week positivity average for staff of long-term care facilities has fallen to 1.3%.
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) August 20, 2020
DeSantis was widely attacked for his coronavirus response, as cases in the state began spiking in early June, about a month after the governor initiated the first phase of reopening.
“Today’s record-high new cases makes it clear: Governor DeSantis has lost control of Florida’s COVID-19 response. His policies are simply not working, and he’s recklessly reopening Florida despite the data screaming for caution. Refusing to acknowledge the alarming patterns in cases, hospitalizations, and positivity is not only arrogant, but will cost lives, public health, and our economy,” Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried said in a statement in June. “If the Governor is unwilling to make the right decisions, then they must be made in our cities, our states, and our homes. We are in this together, and I will continue fighting on behalf of all Floridians.”
DeSantis and his office have repeatedly defended his response to the virus, including not issuing a statewide mask mandate.
“The criticisms of Governor DeSantis not issuing a statewide mask mandate is ridiculous political theatre,” Cody McCloud, DeSantis’s press secretary, said. “Anyone familiar with Florida understands that the state is large and diverse. Some counties have experienced significant cases of COVID-19 and others relatively few, which is why Governor DeSantis has empowered local officials to determine the best course of action for their communities.”
Florida has reported 600,571 confirmed cases of the virus and 10,325 resident deaths as of Sunday.
