2020 Hurricane Season

State health officials reported 1,838 new COVID-19 cases, Monday, bringing Florida's total to 648,269 cases.Sept. 7 marked the lowest single-day increase in reported new infections in Florida since June 15, but whether the Labor Day holiday weekend will result in a surge in new infections, as the state experienced about a week after the July 4th holiday, remains to be seen.The Florida Department of Health also reported 22 new coronavirus-related deaths, Monday, bringing the statewide death toll to 12,023 fatalities since the beginning of the pandemic.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Climate Prediction Center released an updated Atlantic hurricane season forecast, Thursday, calling for an “extremely active” season in the months ahead.The updated forecast calls for 19 to 25 named storms (winds of 39 mph or greater), including seven to 11 hurricanes (winds of 74 mph or greater) and three to six major hurricanes of Category 3 strength or higher (winds of 111 mph or greater).

State Health officials reported another record, Wednesday, for coronavirus-related deaths with 216 new fatalities. July 29 marked the first time the Florida Department of Health has reported a single-day death toll exceeding 200 deaths.So far this month, Florida has seen 2,783 reported deaths for a total of 6,457 fatalities. 2,836 of Florida's COVID-19 deaths, accounting for nearly 44% of Florida's overall death toll, have been among staff and residents of long-term care facilities.

State health officials reported 966 new cases of COVID-19, Monday, increasing the statewide total to 64,904 confirmed cases. Monday’s data marks the first time since June 3 that the single-day increase in reported cases did not exceed one thousand people.The Florida Department of Health also reported 12 new coronavirus-related deaths, Monday, bringing the statewide death toll to 2,712 fatalities. The total number of virus-related hospitalizations in Florida stands at 10,942 patients.

State health officials reported 2,878 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 over the weekend, for a statewide total of 56,163 cases. The Florida Department of Health also reported 87 new coronavirus-related deaths over the weekend, bringing the statewide death toll to 2,451 fatalities.There have now been 1,022,265 COVID-19 tests performed in Florida since the start of the pandemic and overall, 5.5% of those tests have been positive for the virus.

Members of the Manatee County Emergency Management Department held a virtual hurricane preparedness seminar on Thursday.