Jacksonville, Neighboring Counties Record Biggest One-Day Increase in COVID-19 Cases

JACKSONVILLE, Florida – Duval, Clay, Nassau and St. Johns counties all saw a record increase in COVID-19 cases in Tuesday’s report from the Florida Department of Health.

The state added 15,431 new coronavirus cases and 100 COVID-related deaths on Tuesday. While not a record for the state, Florida has averaged more than 14,000 new cases each of the past seven days – the highest week since the pandemic began in March.

There were 1,331 more cases in Duval County on Tuesday, 307 in St. Johns County, 204 in Clay County and 123 cases in Nassau County in the latest FDOH report – the biggest increases in any one single day in these counties.

Since the start of the pandemic, the state has recorded 1,392,123 cases and 22,515 deaths linked to the virus.

The statewide positivity rate based on Monday’s testing was 12.74%, the health department said on Tuesday.

As of 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, 7,342 people were hospitalized in Florida with a primary diagnosis of COVID-19, according to the National Agency for Healthcare Administration.

According to the state’s latest immunization data, 20,195 first doses were given on Monday, bringing the state total to 289,773. Most Floridians who have been vaccinated are healthcare workers and first responders, although a growing number of people aged 65 or over, which the governor has made a key demographic for vaccinations.

More than 82% of those who have died from the disease in Florida are over 65.

Florida has one of the oldest populations in the country with 4.4 million of the state’s 21 million people 65 years of age or older.

Common symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, cough, trouble breathing, sore throat, muscle pain, and loss of taste or smell. Most people only develop mild symptoms. But some people, usually those with other medical complications, develop more serious symptoms, including pneumonia.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.