Florida reports fourth straight day of 5,000+ new COVID-19 cases

ORLANDO, Fla. — Florida reported its fourth straight day of more than 5,000 new coronavirus cases, with 5,740 reported on Friday.

That brings the total number of cases in the state since the pandemic began to 2,033,179.

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On Friday, the state also reported an additional 167 virus-related deaths, bringing the state’s total death toll to 33,756. Friday’s increase is the highest the state has reported in March.

Of the latest deaths, 43 were reported in Central Florida.

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The former director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday that he believes the COVID-19 virus “escaped” from China’s Wuhan Institute of Virology, and that it happened as early as September or October 2019.

Dr. Robert Redfield told CNN Friday that it was his opinion that that is how the virus, which has killed more than 500,000 Americans, spread across the world. Redford was the director of the CDC under President Donald Trump. Click here to read more.

READ: Coronavirus: Former CDC director says he believes coronavirus originated in Wuhan lab

See a county-by-county breakdown of total (and new) cases below, and click here for an interactive map of cases statewide:

ORANGE: CASES: 121,980 (+406); DEATHS: 1,173 (0)

OSCEOLA: CASES: 39,174 (+99); DEATHS: 481 (+2)

SEMINOLE: CASES: 29,518 (+130); DEATHS: 461 (-2)

POLK: CASES: 60,449 (+171); DEATHS: 1,236 (+15)

VOLUSIA: CASES: 37,453 (+181); DEATHS: 711 (+8)

BREVARD: CASES: 36,746 (+94); DEATHS: 802 (+9)

FLAGLER: CASES: 6,553 (27); DEATHS: 96 (+1)

LAKE: CASES: 26,354 (+56); DEATHS: 600 (+8)

MARION: CASES: 28,831 (+55); DEATHS: 914 (+2)

SUMTER: CASES: 8,693 (+15); DEATHS: 243 (0)