Florida reports more than 8,500 new COVID-19 cases, 73 virus-related deaths

ORLANDO, Fla. — Florida health officials reported 8,555 new cases of COVID-19 as county officials find ways to help those affected by the pandemic.

To date, there have been 953,300 cases of COVID-19 reported in the state.

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There were another 73 deaths linked to the virus, according to the Florida Department of Health. Of the recent deaths, 19 were reported in Central Florida.

READ: Orange County CARES Act portal closes about 40 minutes after opening

The state’s death toll now stand at 18,383, according to the most recent report.

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

On Tuesday, the Orange County Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act portal closed about 40 minutes after it opened. The portal allowed 15,000 residents to apply for a $1,000 grant.

Orange County has invested a total of $60 million of local CARES funding into the Individual and Family Assistance Program and has processed more than $39 million dollars, which has helped over 39,000 households.

READ: ‘I’m tired all the time’: Some patients dealing with effects from COVID-19 months later

In vaccine news, British drugmaker AstraZeneca said an interim analysis has revealed that its COVID-19 vaccine was, on average, 70% effective in its clinical trial.

According to The Associated Press, the company, which is manufacturing vaccine candidate AZD1222 developed by Oxford University, announced the update in a news release early Monday.

The news came days after the companies said a final analysis revealed that their COVID-19 vaccine was 95% effective in a clinical trial.

READ: ‘Holiday money hunt’: Are you among the 1 in 5 Floridians who has unclaimed property awaiting them?

“Positive high-level results from an interim analysis of clinical trials of AZD1222 in the U.K. and Brazil showed the vaccine was highly effective in preventing COVID-19, the primary endpoint, and no hospitalizations or severe cases of the disease were reported in participants receiving the vaccine,” the release said.

Click here to learn more about the vaccine.

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: 55,526 (+479) - 635 (+6)

Osceola: 17,442 (+165) - 239 (+3)

Seminole: 12,323 (+79) - 267 (0)

Polk: 26,691 (+187) - 669 (-1)

Volusia: 15,408 (+163) - 360 (+3)

Brevard: 14,811 (+161) - 432 (+1)

Flagler: 2,605 (+28) - 42 (0)

Lake: 10,208 (+57) - 248 (+3)

Marion: 12,579 (+136) - 377 (+3)

Sumter: 3,341 (+33) - 92 (0)