Florida reports almost 10K new COVID-19 cases, 97 virus-related deaths

ORLANDO, Fla. — Florida health officials reported 9,994 new cases of COVID-19 as overall cases in the state continue to climb past 1 million.

To date, there have been 1,018,160 cases of COVID-19 reported in the state. Florida marks the third state to surpass the 1-million-cases milestone, joining Texas and California.

There were another 97 deaths linked to the virus, according to the Florida Department of Health. Of the recent deaths, 14 were reported in Central Florida.

READ: Child COVID-19 vaccine trials to begin this week

The state’s death toll now stand at 19,012, according to the most recent report.

A list of COVID-19 testing sites in Orange County can be found here.

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The first two cases were reported nine months ago, on March 1. By April 1, there were just under 7,000 cases.

READ: 41 people test positive for COVID-19 following swingers’ convention at New Orleans hotel

Multiply that by five, and you have May 1′s total: Around 35,000.

June 1, there were about 57,000 cases, which more than doubled by July 1.

On Aug. 1, there were just over 480,000 people in Florida who tested positive for COVID-19. There was a slower rate of spread these past few months, but it’s increasing again.

READ: Coronavirus: CDC shortens quarantine from 14 to 10 days, 7 with negative test

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has a stark warning for people thinking about traveling over the upcoming holiday season: Stay home or get two COVID-19 tests.

The CDC said that many people ignored the recommendations of staying home for Thanksgiving and the agency is reiterating that is the best way of preventing the spread of the coronavirus, but has added that if you do decide to continue with travel plans, get tested one to three days before your trip, then three to five days after the trip is done, The Associated Press reported.

READ: Two choices for holiday travel from the CDC: Stay home or have two COVID-19 tests

In vaccine news, pharmaceutical company Moderna said Wednesday it will begin testing its vaccine in children.

The study will include 3,000 children aged 12 to 17 years old, The New York Times reported. Half will be given two shots of a vaccine four weeks apart and the others a placebo of salt water.

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: 59,218 (+356) DEATHS: 648 (+2)

Osceola: CASES: 18,817 (+219) DEATHS: 245 (0)

Seminole: CASES: 13,194 (+122) DEATHS: 279 (+3)

Polk: CASES: 28,101 (+279) DEATHS: 690 (+2)

Volusia: CASES: 16,773 (+140) DEATHS: 369 (-1)

Brevard: CASES: 15,953 (+209) DEATHS: 445 (+1)

Flagler: CASES: 2,786 (+22) DEATHS: 42 (0)

Lake: CASES: 10,809 (+66) DEATHS: 258 (+3)

Marion: CASES: 13,280 (+104) DEATHS: 382 (+3)

Sumter: CASES: 3,535 (+32) DEATHS: 98 (0)