After Christmas delay, Florida reports more than 17,000 COVID-19 cases and 142 virus-related deaths

ORLANDO, Fla. — After holding the release of new data over Christmas day, the Florida Department of Health reported 17,042 new coronavirus cases on Saturday.

The total number of reported COVID-19 cases in Florida now stands at 1,264,588.

The data includes cases reported over the last 48 hours, from Christmas Eve through Christmas Day.

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Of the new cases reported, 3,709 were in Central Florida.

Orange County reported the highest increase in cases with 1,139 in the last 48 hours.

Testing sites around Florida have reported long wait times around the holidays as people get tested before they potentially travel.

Over the Christmas break, Florida recorded 50,044 negative test results, bringing the state’s total of negate COVID-19 tests to 7,274,407.

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Florida health officials also reported 142 new COVID-19-related deaths on Saturday, including two people who were not Florida residents.

According to state health records, 21,437 have died in Florida from COVID-19.

Of the new deaths reported, 22 were in Central Florida. Every county in Central Florida reported new COVID-19 deaths except for Seminole County.

Both Volusia and Marion counties reported six new COVID-19 deaths over the last two days.

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The Florida Department of Health also reported 20,869 new COVID-19 vaccinations, bringing the total number of people vaccinated in the state to 113,946.

Channel 9 reporter Deanna Allbrittin also observed some first responders at the Orange County Convention Center being vaccinated Saturday morning.

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

Orange: CASES: 72,663 (+1,139) - DEATHS: 727 (+1)

Polk: CASES: 35,393 (+548) - DEATHS: 766 (+2)

Osceola: CASES: 24,224 (+324) - DEATHS: 283 (+2)

Volusia: CASES: 21,209 (+315) - DEATHS: 420 (+6)

Brevard: CASES: 20,050 (+261) - DEATHS: 513 (+2)

Seminole: CASES: 17,266 (+271) - DEATHS: 307 (0)

Marion: CASES: 16,919 (+324) - DEATHS: 451 (+6)

Lake: CASES: 14,627 (+347) - DEATHS: 288 (+1)

Sumter: CASES: 4,754 (+97) - DEATHS: 118 (+1)

Flagler: CASES: 3,528 (+83) - DEATHS: 48 (+1)

Cox Media Group