Seminole County officials discuss increase in COVID-19 cases

SEMINOLE COUNTY, Florida – Seminole County officials provided an update on the coronavirus situation in the county at a press conference on Tuesday.

The press conference was broadcast live at the top of this story starting at noon.

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According to a press release, the following speakers made remarks during the briefing:

• Jay Zembower, Chairman of the Council of County Commissioners
• Florida Department of Health in Seminole Health Officer Donna Walsh
• Alan Harris, Seminole County Emergency Director

County officials have held briefings on COVID-19 periodically since the pandemic started in March, but held Tuesday’s briefing in response to a recently reported spike in new coronavirus cases.

Last week, Seminole County Medical Director Dr Todd Husty said the weekly average of one-day COVID-19 cases was 65, down from around 20 a month earlier.

Seminole County reported 66 new cases on Monday. Statewide, the Florida Department of Health reported 3,924 new cases on Monday, bringing the state’s overall total to 847,821 cases since March. Seminole County has reported more than 11,000 positive cases of COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic.

[READ YESTERDAY’S REPORT: Florida reports nearly 4,000 new infections as vaccine trials offer glimmer of hope]

Tuesday’s coronavirus figures are expected to be released in the late afternoon.

Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings revealed on Friday that the Department of Health plans to postpone when the department releases daily COVID-19 data until the afternoon. The DOH did not respond to questions about the change.

Florida’s COVID-19 dashboard and website was updated before 5 p.m. Monday, for the past eight months, these updates normally occur around 11 a.m.

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