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The state says it has discovered 25 more coronavirus-infected patients, now the largest number of cases announced at one time during the COVID-19 pandemic.
That list includes another Floridian who has died of the contagious disease: A 68-year-old Orange County woman who traveled to Asia, then was tested in California. She is the third Florida resident to succumb to the virus.
The statement was sent out at 12:21 a.m. Saturday, continuing a pattern by Florida officials to release the latest discovery of new patients late at night, even waiting until after midnight.
The death of a fourth Floridian, a 77-year-old from Lee County, was announced Saturday evening.
Nine of the new patients are in Broward County, which now leads the state with 21 people testing positive. Five more were found in Miami-Dade County for a total of six. That makes South Florida the epicenter of the virus, according to the Miami Herald, yet most are not travel-related infections.
Orange County also has its first two cases, though one of those patients never returned to Florida after being infected and has now died.
None of the 25 new cases are from the Tampa Bay region.
Florida has now had 71 people test positive for COVID-19 within the state. The ages of the new patients range from 19 to 83.
The state has 64 residents who were diagnosed in-state and held in isolation here. There are also seven non-residents who tested positive and are being held in isolation in Florida. The 64 residents includes two deaths from the disease.
Not included in that count are six Florida residents who tested positive out-of-state and were isolated there. That includes the Orange County woman who died.
A constant rise in the number of confirmed cases is to be expected as health officials ramp up testing for the contagious virus. But testing has been so limited that there are likely far more undiagnosed COVID-19 cases out there — many already suffering flu-like symptoms — that haven’t yet been tested.
Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings said the Orlando-area woman who died had visited South Korea, then flew to California where she was diagnosed and placed in self-isolation there, according to the Orlando Sentinel. She was never in Florida while infected.
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Here is a list of the 24 patients who are now in self-isolation that was announced early Saturday:
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Explore all your options- A 69-year-old man who is not a Florida resident, but tested positive for COVID-19 in Alachua County. He had visited Europe.
- An 83-year-old Broward County woman tested positive. An epidemiological investigation is underway.
- A 58-year-old Broward County man tested positive for COVID-19. An epidemiological investigation is underway.
- A 41-year-old Broward County man tested positive for COVID-19. An epidemiological investigation is underway.
- A 22-year-old Broward County woman tested positive. An epidemiological investigation is underway.
- A 20-year-old Broward County woman tested positive. This is a travel-related case involving Europe.
- A 20-year-old Broward County woman tested positive. This is a travel-related case involving Europe.
- A 19-year-old Broward County woman tested positive. This is a travel-related case linked to Europe.
- A 19-year-old Broward County man tested positive. This is a travel-related case linked to Europe.
- A 67-year-old Manatee County woman tested positive. This is a travel-related case, the state said, but the patient traveled domestically.
- A 62-year-old Manatee County woman tested positive for the coronavirus. This is not a travel-related case.
- A 77-year-old Miami-Dade woman tested positive. An epidemiological investigation is underway.
- A 51-year-old Miami-Dade County man tested positive for COVID-19. An epidemiological investigation is underway to determine the source of the infection.
- A 43-year-old Miami-Dade County man tested positive. An epidemiological investigation is underway.
- A 42-year-old Miami-Dade County man tested positive for COVID-19. An epidemiological investigation is underway to determine the source of the infection.
- A 39-year-old Miami-Dade County woman tested positive. An epidemiological investigation is underway to determine the source of the infection.
- A 37-year-old Miami-Dade County Man tested positive. This is a travel-related case linked to Europe.
- A 54-year-old Osceola County man tested positive. An epidemiological investigation is underway to determine the source of the infection.
- A 41-year-old Orange County man tested positive. An epidemiological investigation is underway to determine the source of the infection.
- A 65-year-old Palm Beach County man tested positive. This is a travel-related case. The patient traveled domestically.
- A 59-year-old Palm Beach County woman tested positive for COVID-19. This is a travel-related case, the state said, but the patient traveled domestically.
- A 37-year-old Palm Beach County man tested positive for COVID-19 An epidemiological investigation is underway.
- A 59-year-old Broward County man tested positive. An epidemiological investigation is underway.
- A 29-year-old Volusia County man tested positive. This person was in contact with someone who traveled, the state said, making this a travel-related case.
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Five Tampa Bay residents have also tested positive for the virus:
The first is a 29-year-old Hillsborough County woman who traveled from Italy through Tampa International Airport A California woman who traveled with her also tested positive and is being held in isolation in Hillsborough, but is not considered a Florida case and is not included in that count. But a woman who was on that flight said the state failed to answer her questions about being exposed to the virus.
Then two Pinellas County men, ages 64 and 67. Both are “traveled-related," according to the state.
The Pasco patient is a 46-year-old man whose case the state said is also “travel-related.” Gene DellaSala, of Land O’ Lakes, says he has the virus but told the Tampa Bay Times that the state is mistaken. He said he was visited by a 70-year-old man who had traveled to China before visiting him Land O’ Lakes, then later tested positive for the virus and was hospitalized in Louisville, Ky.
A 49-year-old Hillsborough County woman also recently tested positive. This is a travel-related case linked to Europe, the state said.
Coronavirus produces symptoms similar to the flu and can cause severe respiratory infections, particularly in people who are older or have chronic health conditions.
The elderly have a higher death rate after contracting the coronavirus, which makes Florida particularly vulnerable to the pandemic. No state has a higher share of residents who are in their 70s, 80s or older.
Four Floridians have now died of the disease. The first two deaths were a 71-year-old man from Santa Rosa County and a 77-year-old woman from Lee County. Both died after “travel-related” infections.
In the U.S. that have been 41 deaths and 1,629 total cases as of Friday, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
More than 132,758 cases have been reported worldwide, according to the World Health Organization’s daily situation report. The death toll stands at 4,955 people.
Click here to view the Florida Department of Health’s COVID-19 tracking page.
Clarification: This story has been updated to clarify that the Orange County woman who died is among the 25 new cases announced early Saturday.
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Tampa Bay Times coronavirus guide
Q&A: The latest and all your questions answered.
EVENT CANCELLATIONS: Get the latest updates on events planned in the Tampa Bay area in the coming weeks.
PROTECT YOURSELF: Household cleaners can kill the virus on most surfaces, including your phone screen.
BE PREPARED: Guidelines for essentials to keep in your home should you have to stay inside.
STOCK UP YOUR PANTRY: Foods that should always be in your kitchen, for emergencies and everyday life.
FACE MASKS: They offer some protection, but studies debate their effectiveness.
WORKPLACE RISK: A list of five things employers could be doing to help curb the spread of the disease.
READER BEWARE: Look out for bad information as false claims are spreading online.
OTHER CORONAVIRUS WEBSITES:
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
• Florida Department of Health
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