TOPLINE
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said Monday that he believes Florida’s coronavirus crisis has “stabilized,” just one day after the state reported over 15,000 new cases, the most by any state in a single day so far in the pandemic.
MIAMI, FL – JUNE 08: Florida Governor Ron DeSantis gesticulates during a press conference relating … [+] hurricane season updates at the Miami-Dade Emergency Operations Center on June 8, 2020 in Miami, Florida. NOAA has predicted that this year’s Atlantic hurricane season will be more active than usual with up to 19 named storms and 6 major hurricanes possible. (Photo by Eva Marie Uzcategui/Getty Images)
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KEY FACTS
Florida on Monday reported 12,343 new coronavirus cases, second only to Sunday’s record high.
DeSantis cited a dropping positive test rate as a sign that the crisis in the state has stabilized.
But that rate, 11.51%, was actually higher on Monday than the 11.25% reported on Sunday.
It is down significantly from a high of 18.43% on Thursday, though, and deaths have also fallen, down to 35 on Monday from a high of 120 reported Thursday.
DeSantis ignored questions at the news conference about whether Florida would enact a statewide mask mandate, like many other states that have had a recent spike in cases.
KEY BACKGROUND
Florida, which is the third most populous state, is now the single largest contributor to the new case load in the U.S., a count that has recently reached record highs. The state was one of the fastest to reopen its economy, though DeSantis reversed that some by ordering bars to once again close throughout the state. Miami-Dade has taken even stricter measures, once again shutting down restaurants.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR
Giménez said at Monday’s news conference, which was held at a Jackson Health System facility, that if the current measures do not lead to a turnaround in Miami-Dade County, stricter ones will have to be put in place.
CRITICAL QUOTE
“We have seen a dramatic increase in patients over the past 30 days,” Carlos A. Migoya, CEO of the Jackson Health System, said at the news conference Monday.
Jackson Health System runs Miami’s Jackson Memorial Hospital, one of the largest hospitals in the world. The hospital system recently announced it would suspend elective surgeries.
FURTHER READING
Florida Shatters National Record With Over 15,000 New Coronavirus Cases (Forbes)
Why Florida, The Pandemic’s New Epicenter, Won’t Mandate Face Masks (Forbes)
Miami Is Closing Its Restaurants Again, As Florida’s Coronavirus Crisis Continues (Forbes)
Miami-Dade Hits 1,000 Coronavirus Deaths As Patients In Health System Double (Forbes)
