Health

Florida coronavirus-related deaths on the rise again, data shows

ORLANDO, Fla. — In Florida, coronavirus-related deaths are on the rise again.

Deaths attributed to the virus had dropped 30% following initial efforts at containment, but six weeks after infection rates began inching up again, data shows the number of fatalities also is rising.

COVID-19 deaths were the highest in April, with 1,270 people dying from the virus. Most of the deaths happened after the state’s new cases first peaked April 8.

Read: Gov. DeSantis says state will get 30K vials of Remdesivir to treat COVID-19 patients

In June, there were about 350 fewer deaths than April. But in just the first two weeks of July, medical examiners have reported 700 deaths.

On July 5, the seven-day average was 45 deaths a day. I’ts more than doubled to 106 daily deaths.

The increase comes as many Florida hospitals deal with their highest number of patients hospitalized with COVID-19.

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Doctors said people have a much better chance of survival now that treatment options have greatly improved.

“Most of the ones that I’ve spoken with have had positive results with the Remdesivir, so when we got word that they were running low, we were able to get another shipment expedited,” DeSantis said.

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